Possible Lead shot Ban

[wesslpointer]

We have plenty of raptors here in south central SD. I have nothing agaisnt them as we still have plenty of birds. The amount of Bald eagles this winter has been nothing short of amazing. One day I saw 7 in a three mile span. I did get worried one day. I had my GWP out running and and two bald eagles were sitting in a tree, as we got near one flew off. As the dog passed by the tree the other took flight and flew right above him. I can't be sure the eagle was thinking about taking my dog, but it sure looked like it started to swoop down then thought better and pulled back up. My GWP weighs in around 55# and when a Bald Eagle is within 15ft it looks like it could take the dog with out a whole lot of effort. I did have my Tarus Judge with and if it would have went after the dog, it would have got one warning shot to scare it off.
Another sight to see is areas on the oiled roads where big groups of pheasant congergate and end up getting hit by cars. The eagles quit hunting and just scavage, same with all the deer that get hit.

I had a bald eagle try to take a duck my Wesslpointer was retrieving right in the middle of the river. I shot three times in the air before he the eagle that is gave up. Not sure what I'd have done if he had hit my dog, he was "diving" coming close.

 

[PointnLab]

Wow, what a thread...lead shot, to farming, to commodity prices, to raptor and predator control!

I don't live in SD, but have hunted there almost every year of my 55 on earth. I've made some great friends there, had the time of my life there, and have it in my will that the next generation of hunters in our crew will reload a volley of shells to spread my ashes there.

Farming: All the farmers I know in SD are true stewards of the land. They have been no-till farmers for years now. All have planted wind rows, and forage plants to help the birds through the winter. They understand the need for both nesting cover and winter cover. The land is their legacy, and they take pride in it and their future. I'd rather see them turn a good buck on occaission than let the CEO's, hedge fund managers, and wall street types get it all! I also buy the young boys a PF membership every year so they can learn more about both pheasant hunting and conservation...and they've all loved it...and pressured Dad to do a little more of it!

Road Ditches: Section line roads are simply trails as some here have eluded to. I often hunt section lines as they are beautiful strips of waist high cover, often holding birds that the dog can pin down on the edges...most of these roads only see cars during hunting season. Great spots for a guy or two with dogs.

Loaded guns: The hunting regs manual states guns may be transported in a vehicle uncased and loaded, with the chamber empty.

GF&P: I doubt one guy can ramrod through the non-tox ditch law. There are many reasons, but the biggest is that opening week of pheasant hunting is the largest week of commerce in the state each year. Money talks. If he wins?...I'll just switch to non-tox and enjoy the hunt...no big deal.

Thanks for the entertainment gents...covered the whole spectrum like a good quartering bird dog!:cheers:

PL

 

[mnmthunting]

PointnLab, that is basically a pretty good post. :thumbsup:

 

[1pheas4]

GF&P: I doubt one guy can ramrod through the non-tox ditch law. There are many reasons, but the biggest is that opening week of pheasant hunting is the largest week of commerce in the state each year. Money talks. If he wins?...I'll just switch to non-tox and enjoy the hunt...PL

I love lead shot. I have a saying "use lead, it's dead". Steel tends to cripple birds too often, but I have to be honest the past few years that's all I've used on pheasants. I love Rem. Hypersonic steel. Very impressed with it's killing range/patterning.

I'm with you PL. If steels required it's really no big deal. The hunt will go on.

 

[Wirehairs]

Wow, what a thread...lead shot, to farming, to commodity prices, to raptor and predator control!

I don't live in SD, but have hunted there almost every year of my 55 on earth. I've made some great friends there, had the time of my life there, and have it in my will that the next generation of hunters in our crew will reload a volley of shells to spread my ashes there.

Farming: All the farmers I know in SD are true stewards of the land. They have been no-till farmers for years now. All have planted wind rows, and forage plants to help the birds through the winter. They understand the need for both nesting cover and winter cover. The land is their legacy, and they take pride in it and their future. I'd rather see them turn a good buck on occaission than let the CEO's, hedge fund managers, and wall street types get it all! I also buy the young boys a PF membership every year so they can learn more about both pheasant hunting and conservation...and they've all loved it...and pressured Dad to do a little more of it!

Road Ditches: Section line roads are simply trails as some here have eluded to. I often hunt section lines as they are beautiful strips of waist high cover, often holding birds that the dog can pin down on the edges...most of these roads only see cars during hunting season. Great spots for a guy or two with dogs.

Loaded guns: The hunting regs manual states guns may be transported in a vehicle uncased and loaded, with the chamber empty.

GF&P: I doubt one guy can ramrod through the non-tox ditch law. There are many reasons, but the biggest is that opening week of pheasant hunting is the largest week of commerce in the state each year. Money talks. If he wins?...I'll just switch to non-tox and enjoy the hunt...no big deal.

Thanks for the entertainment gents...covered the whole spectrum like a good quartering bird dog!:cheers:

PL

Good post but I would argue the 400,000 bikers at sturgis is the bigger week of commerce for the state than pheaant hunting opening week.

 

[wesslpointer]

Wow, what a thread...lead shot, to farming, to commodity prices, to raptor and predator control!

I don't live in SD, but have hunted there almost every year of my 55 on earth. I've made some great friends there, had the time of my life there, and have it in my will that the next generation of hunters in our crew will reload a volley of shells to spread my ashes there.

Farming: All the farmers I know in SD are true stewards of the land. They have been no-till farmers for years now. All have planted wind rows, and forage plants to help the birds through the winter. They understand the need for both nesting cover and winter cover. The land is their legacy, and they take pride in it and their future. I'd rather see them turn a good buck on occaission than let the CEO's, hedge fund managers, and wall street types get it all! I also buy the young boys a PF membership every year so they can learn more about both pheasant hunting and conservation...and they've all loved it...and pressured Dad to do a little more of it!

Road Ditches: Section line roads are simply trails as some here have eluded to. I often hunt section lines as they are beautiful strips of waist high cover, often holding birds that the dog can pin down on the edges...most of these roads only see cars during hunting season. Great spots for a guy or two with dogs.

Loaded guns: The hunting regs manual states guns may be transported in a vehicle uncased and loaded, with the chamber empty.

GF&P: I doubt one guy can ramrod through the non-tox ditch law. There are many reasons, but the biggest is that opening week of pheasant hunting is the largest week of commerce in the state each year. Money talks. If he wins?...I'll just switch to non-tox and enjoy the hunt...no big deal.

Thanks for the entertainment gents...covered the whole spectrum like a good quartering bird dog!:cheers:

PL

Road Ditches? As a person that enjoys hunting the undeveloped section lines. what would you think if the state of SD implemented a plan to keep some cover on ALL PUBLIC right of ways? If the right of ways were mowed short on the road edges to the ditch, and they left 12 inches or so of cover in ditch and outside. They would still spray the whole right of way for weeds. During the first hard freese the 12 inches would shrink to 6 so there should not be a problem with snow removal? With A possible reduction of crp won't the state be wise to look into this ? Isn't leaving cover on right of ways doing the same things that the crp program is trying to do? Theres thousands of miles of public right of ways in the state.

 

[haymaker]

Road Ditches? As a person that enjoys hunting the undeveloped section lines. what would you think if the state of SD implemented a plan to keep some cover on ALL PUBLIC right of ways? If the right of ways were mowed short on the road edges to the ditch, and they left 12 inches or so of cover in ditch and outside. They would still spray the whole right of way for weeds. During the first hard freese the 12 inches would shrink to 6 so there should not be a problem with snow removal? With A possible reduction of crp won't the state be wise to look into this ? Isn't leaving cover on right of ways doing the same things that the crp program is trying to do? Theres thousands of miles of public right of ways in the state.

Just to interject one more thought on this. We are having trouble stopping farmers from farming the ditches. There are farmers that are farming right next to the road, actually pulling down the road bed. We will fight that battle and leave mowing as it is.

 

[PointnLab]

@ Wesslpointer:

Yeah Wessl...any cover is good cover. Being from ID as you are...we get to see the fields worked right up to the roads edge. Really too bad, if we had the farming practices they utilize in SD, we could live in pheasant heaven!

I live in Boise, and see you're nearby. I wouldn't mind seeing your dogs sometime. You got regular hours out there?

Best, Greg

 

[PointnLab]

Good post but I would argue the 400,000 bikers at sturgis is the bigger week of commerce for the state than pheaant hunting opening week.

Actually, Sturgess would be the Breast...uhhh.."BEST" week of Commerce on an annual basis!