My father and I will be hunting pheasants in S.D. for the first time. We live in Michigan and have never hunted S.D. We plan on hunting pheasants and prairie chickens around Pierre, on walk in areas. We have 2 springers and 1 brittany. I have a couple of questions and would appreciate any responses. The first question: is there any concern for snakes around the third week of Oct. ? Also any general areas that would be worth a try would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
pheasant hunting around Pierre, SD
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snakes
We hunt last week of Oct. first week of Nov. In the Pierre area. The only place we have seen snakes is the grasslands. Stay away from prairie dog towns and you should be OK. There is lots of walk in areas just get a atlas and have at it. We are from Mi. also.
We hunt last week of Oct. first week of Nov. In the Pierre area. The only place we have seen snakes is the grasslands. Stay away from prairie dog towns and you should be OK. There is lots of walk in areas just get a atlas and have at it. We are from Mi. also.
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If you go on the east side of the river toward Hoven you need to be aware that area is has a lot of corn and sunflowers. If they aren't harvested, the birds will be out of the CPR into the crops by shooting hours, and will hold pretty tight until just after shooting hours.
http://arcgis.sd.gov/Wilma/mapping/mapping_public.aspx
Look at the areas south of Pierre down by I90. The area between Presho and Reliance is about the same distance as Hoven. There is a lot of national grassland before you get there and plenty of CRP walk in areas and GPA's.
I never had trouble finding birds down there, just hitting them.
Get up and out on the road early. You should be able to see birds flying off the roosting areas to feeding areas, or coming to the road to get gravel. It will give you an idea of where the concentrations of birds are.
If you do decide to go north and east check out the Cottonwood Lake GPA. There is a lot of walk in land surrounding it. I saw quite a few birds in the area last year.
That general area also has a lot of unimproved roads that are just wagon tracks that provide good road/ditch hunting. You will probably be the only one driving on those roads.
I'm lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and I'm waiting to hear that most of the crops are out before I head out from OH. I don't want fight the battle with standing corn and sunflowers. The way it sounds the corn might not come off before spring in some areas. If that's the case I'll need to stay south of I90 where there are some very productive GPAs.
http://arcgis.sd.gov/Wilma/mapping/mapping_public.aspx
Look at the areas south of Pierre down by I90. The area between Presho and Reliance is about the same distance as Hoven. There is a lot of national grassland before you get there and plenty of CRP walk in areas and GPA's.
I never had trouble finding birds down there, just hitting them.
Get up and out on the road early. You should be able to see birds flying off the roosting areas to feeding areas, or coming to the road to get gravel. It will give you an idea of where the concentrations of birds are.
If you do decide to go north and east check out the Cottonwood Lake GPA. There is a lot of walk in land surrounding it. I saw quite a few birds in the area last year.
That general area also has a lot of unimproved roads that are just wagon tracks that provide good road/ditch hunting. You will probably be the only one driving on those roads.
I'm lucky enough to have a flexible schedule and I'm waiting to hear that most of the crops are out before I head out from OH. I don't want fight the battle with standing corn and sunflowers. The way it sounds the corn might not come off before spring in some areas. If that's the case I'll need to stay south of I90 where there are some very productive GPAs.
Riverman
Member
I guess I have never had any of those kid of problems near Hoven. When the crops are still in the field I tend to hunt more linear cover, e.g. the old roads and ditches that Britlover mentions. I don't hunt in big groups so it isn't like I am looking for 30 birds. In December, after the crops are cut, I usually see A LOT more birds, but frankly, I kill just as many in October, and enjoy the weather a lot better, than I do those later season hunts. BUT, December hunting can give you some magical days that you don't get in October.
To me, it is SoDak pheasant hunting--you will always get your shots if you walk enough --and most days it is far better than any other state (for public hunting anyways).
The thing I like about hunting that area a couple hours north of Pierre is that it has a lot of birds and I never see another sole. You can truly get lost out there and see the praire like Lewis and Clark saw it, plus a few hundred thousand pheasants!
Hoven has a really cool church too. Not that I normally care for that kind of thing, but the architecture is amazing when you consider it is in a town of 200 people. Just amazing, and the door is always open to check it out--even dogs are welcome.
Isn't this great--it isn't like we are talking about going to a specific place--you can truly explore an entire region within the state and find GREAT hunting no matter where you go. It is one reason I travel 900 mi and 12 hrs three times a year to spend 3 weeks hunting pheasants in SoDak. Nothing else compares! The whole state is your oyster.
To me, it is SoDak pheasant hunting--you will always get your shots if you walk enough --and most days it is far better than any other state (for public hunting anyways).
The thing I like about hunting that area a couple hours north of Pierre is that it has a lot of birds and I never see another sole. You can truly get lost out there and see the praire like Lewis and Clark saw it, plus a few hundred thousand pheasants!
Hoven has a really cool church too. Not that I normally care for that kind of thing, but the architecture is amazing when you consider it is in a town of 200 people. Just amazing, and the door is always open to check it out--even dogs are welcome.
Isn't this great--it isn't like we are talking about going to a specific place--you can truly explore an entire region within the state and find GREAT hunting no matter where you go. It is one reason I travel 900 mi and 12 hrs three times a year to spend 3 weeks hunting pheasants in SoDak. Nothing else compares! The whole state is your oyster.
Ranger Rick
Member
Exploring
Riverman: I'm with you. My group goes to the same place every year. We normally have good hunting, but in those drought years, when the cover is sparse, the hunting can be very tough. In '06 I took a friend and we spent 4 days hunting 4 different areas starting NE in Webster and ending off I-90 near Kimball. We hunted walkin areas 3 days and private land the last day. Shot plenty of birds and saw a lot of the state. Really enjoyed being mobile and seeing new country.
I'm heading out on Oct 22 to hunt 4 days with my group. On the fifth day I will head north on my own and hunt that afternoon somewhere new. That Hoven area sounds like a new spot to explore. I'll be pouring over the atlas tonight!!! Can't wait to head west!
Riverman: I'm with you. My group goes to the same place every year. We normally have good hunting, but in those drought years, when the cover is sparse, the hunting can be very tough. In '06 I took a friend and we spent 4 days hunting 4 different areas starting NE in Webster and ending off I-90 near Kimball. We hunted walkin areas 3 days and private land the last day. Shot plenty of birds and saw a lot of the state. Really enjoyed being mobile and seeing new country.
I'm heading out on Oct 22 to hunt 4 days with my group. On the fifth day I will head north on my own and hunt that afternoon somewhere new. That Hoven area sounds like a new spot to explore. I'll be pouring over the atlas tonight!!! Can't wait to head west!