observations thus far....

[benelli-banger]

My take thus far, having hunted twice in Mn on the same walk-in for about one hour each time and having hunted 6 days in SD on many public spots and on a few pieces of private ground: birds may be down from last year, but if you told me they were the same, or up somewhat, I would believe that. More than anything I am seeing a variety of this year's birds...there were hatches at different times this year, and they survived, unlike last year when it was so hot and dry. Guys with multiple GOOD dogs are doing very well, especially if they can shoot OK. Guys who can't walk alot, or who miss alot, or who don't have a dog, are sucking wind...in good years there are probably excess birds that they bump into despite their challenges. I am not professing to be a premier hunter...I have hunted with several this season thus far and it is apparent that putting birds in the vest is not all that hard. Might be somewhat a function of where a guy is hunting, but even in Mn on the first public spot we picked on oct. 21, a monday, at eleven am, two of us shot 4 roosters in about one hour...windy, and we picked a WIA that had some thick cover...maybe that was serendipitous on our part, but Mn supposedly has no birds...we put up about 25, half and half....bottom line, what else are you going to do that is anywhere near as fun???? If bowling or going to a movie is about as good to you, then do those things...much cheaper! Definitely no clouds of birds like in past years...but, where there is decent habitat, there are a few birds...

 

[small munsterlander owner]

i agree let everybody think theres no birds ive found em in MN hope to in SD i have did so well in MN i was thinking of just hunting MN for a WK to try to find more good spots??? but i woke up heading to SD in the A.M. be hunting by 10:00-11:00 tomorrow cant wait!!!

i agree if your not willing to work wear the birds live or are then ur hunt will suck guys walking seas of CRP or just ditch/grass cover are the guys not seeing the birds & crying about the long drives.. hunt the cover & guys are seeing birds...

hope there is 2-4 age class birds in SD like in MN my dog should have a blast out there!!!

 

[reddog]

My take thus far, having hunted twice in Mn on the same walk-in for about one hour each time and having hunted 6 days in SD on many public spots and on a few pieces of private ground: birds may be down from last year, but if you told me they were the same, or up somewhat, I would believe that. More than anything I am seeing a variety of this year's birds...there were hatches at different times this year, and they survived, unlike last year when it was so hot and dry. Guys with multiple GOOD dogs are doing very well, especially if they can shoot OK. Guys who can't walk alot, or who miss alot, or who don't have a dog, are sucking wind...in good years there are probably excess birds that they bump into despite their challenges. I am not professing to be a premier hunter...I have hunted with several this season thus far and it is apparent that putting birds in the vest is not all that hard. Might be somewhat a function of where a guy is hunting, but even in Mn on the first public spot we picked on oct. 21, a monday, at eleven am, two of us shot 4 roosters in about one hour...windy, and we picked a WIA that had some thick cover...maybe that was serendipitous on our part, but Mn supposedly has no birds...we put up about 25, half and half....bottom line, what else are you going to do that is anywhere near as fun???? If bowling or going to a movie is about as good to you, then do those things...much cheaper! Definitely no clouds of birds like in past years...but, where there is decent habitat, there are a few birds...

Pretty much spot on.

Im just back from 6 days. 5 hunting birds.

Thursday: Sat in a treestand for the evening hunt, Very serene..

Friday:East river, private. 2 birds should've had my 3rd. Hunted 2 1/2 hours. Sat in different treestand for the evening hunt..

Saturday morning I headed west river.. Invited a classmate of mine to join me. Hunted from 1230 till 4. I put 2 in the vest, and lost my third. My classmate whiffed on 4 different situations.... Beautiful country.

Sunday found me back on the west river property alone. Hunted from 11 to 1:15. Long walk back to the truck with a full vest..

Monday found me back east river on private for a group hunt (9 guys). Hunted from 10:30 till 4:30 and filled, but there was nothing easy about this hunt.

Today found a drastic weather change. I huntedfrom 10:30 till 1 and bagged 2 birds. I headed home early, and rightfully so. A typical 2 1/2 hour drive morphed into a 5 1/4 hour drive home, under really crappy conditions for the last 90 miles..

In six days in the state, I seen 9 birds standing on the edges of some kind of cover.. Seen 1 rooster on the side of the road. Seen 4 roosters in the ditch.. I easily drive by ditch birds..Seen half a dozen prairie chickens, none of which cooperated with me or my dogs..

Had a great time..as usual..but both the dogs are tired, and so am I..

 

[mhiguera]

SD Hunt

I would have to agree with these comments and wanted to add a report from my hunt last Fri, Sat and Sun morning. Noticed immediately that some of my favorite walk-in ground had turned to corn and was no longer covered with nice CRP cover. I had to work very hard but ended up shooting 4 roosters and 1 sharpie (got into one covey that held tight from my English setter) hunting til sunset Fri and Sat and walking a ton but I enjoy being outside. There was good cover and decent bird numbers. I'd say perhaps 40% got up early and flew because they were spooked and the other 60% held tight. All in all I probably saw 15 roosters - some getting up way ahead of me and 25 hens over the weekend. Had a good time and am planning to hunt again with a few friends but I don't think I would go back to where I was because of the limited amount of quality public land. One bright note was there were very, very few hunters out which was nice.

 

[UGUIDE]

Nice reports guys. Reddog, thanks for adding the pictures. you and BB definitely have figured out how to enjoy the true spoils of South Dakota.

 

[Downtown Bang!]

Heading out for my 4th and last day (30lb Cocker is just too beat up to force a 5th day) of solo free lancing in SD. Also did an afternoon in MN on the way over. Definitely agree with BB's observations. There are birds to be had and the MN numbers were better than I expected and "locally" better than some of areas I have hit in SD.

Please understand the observations below are from the perspective of a solo hunter with one flushing dog who is hunting public land only:

There seems to be very few birds in marginal cover. In past good years a guy could pick-up bonus birds detouring through the odd weed patch, knee high brome at the edge of a corn field, fence/tree line etc. on the way to better cover. Not a good use of time in a year like this. Get to the best cover quickly and stay there.

The fundamentals and small things really matter. Have shot almost all my birds while hunting into the wind in the best cover. The last two days I have looked at every spot I hunt specifically with that in mind. The small things determining success can work the other way two. So far this week hunting into the wind has often also mean't hunting into the sun. Have lost at least three opportunities this trip where the rooster got up in the glare of the sun and didn't cackle. Am learning to hate roosters that do not cackle.

Shoot well. So far so good for me and hoping it continues today.

If you choose correctly at the golden hour a limit is a great possibility. Choose poorly and a limit will be tough sledding. Got it right on day one and chose poorly the last two days. Probably need to get it right today if I want to finish on a high note.

Like BB said there seems to have been multiple hatches this year. Have one tiny almost squab sized rooster, one that was very nice sized and sizes in between. All my birds appear to be from this years hatch. Would love to take a big 2nd season rooster today but these guys tend to make themselves pretty scarce on the pressured public parcels.

Hope everyone has a great weekend chasing roosters.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Good stuff Downtown. Pretty much what I have gone thru this season. Definitly wise to pick that best spot for the last 45 minutes of the hunt.
Have been hunting one spot where the birds are coming in from the corn on a WPA and have put up around 15 birds on two ocassions. Lots of hens so I get a lot of anticipation and pointing dog work. Given the winds I have hustled down to the east end and worked my way back to the west and corn to get it done. Have put some hens up before heading back west, but have only seen the roosters on the way back. I am not always finding them in the heaviest cover tho.

 

[Downtown Bang!]

Good stuff Downtown. Pretty much what I have gone thru this season. Definitly wise to pick that best spot for the last 45 minutes of the hunt.
Have been hunting one spot where the birds are coming in from the corn on a WPA and have put up around 15 birds on two ocassions. Lots of hens so I get a lot of anticipation and pointing dog work. Given the winds I have hustled down to the east end and worked my way back to the west and corn to get it done. Have put some hens up before heading back west, but have only seen the roosters on the way back. I am not always finding them in the heaviest cover tho.

A WPA with standing corn next to it was a good spot for me this week as well. Picked up two birds during the final hour on day one and then managed to pick up one on a short hunt at mid-day a couple of days later.

Agree about the heaviest cover observation. Should have been more clear with my use of the term best cover. The dog and I were finding our birds mixed in throughout the areas where Cattails, Marsh Grass and CRP were in close proximity. Some were hanging out right in the cattails and others were loafing or roosting in the thinner stuff. Just seemed like cattails/thick stuff needed to be close by.

Ended up averaging two birds a day during the trip. Far from my best work but absolutely worth the time and effort. Should have kept my mouth shut on the shooting well business. Ended up wiffing on my limit bird about 15-minutes ahead of close on the last day. Felt bad about it too after seeing the sad sack in the picture below back at the motel.

Glad to see you're still active on the forum, Buck. Hope you have a great season.

DB

 

[Headin west]

Great picture. I bet you didn't hear much from the dog on the way home.

 

[canthitathing]

Great pic of the dog, just got back last night from our hunt and got my behind really chewed badddddddddd. My two labs looked like they went through a war, noses and eyes scrapped raw (wife is not too happy)......but the main thing is they worked great and brought back a bunch of birds. Now it will that them a week to recover, thats if the 10 week old pup leaves them alone.

 

[reddog]

My Breez came back with 5 cuts to her face that are healing nicely. Im headed back out this afternoon, and see if we can get her a few more battle wounds..

 

[reddog]

Let me add that I was pleasantly surprised at the number of birds yesterday. I'm pulling the boat today, just in case it's that good today...