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SD Public Hunting
- Thread starter nics32
- Start date
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Lots of cattails up there if I recall correctly…for a few years I did some trips out of Britton, a bit east of Hecla…some guys hunted ducks on the ND side, some of us hunted pheasants first thing in ND, then went to SD after 10 am…made for lots of activity! Much fun!
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Lots of CREP west of Hecla…I like CREP…might work well with pointers…looks like CREP everywhere, every direction!!!
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benelli-banger
Well-known member
Might find sharpies or chickens up there if the cover isn’t above mid-shins…we got into some, been 15+ years…
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Check out school land for sharpies…pasture is good for grouse..,
Do you have a better time of year you’d recommend, or a better area for the first week of December?Can be brutal up there that time of year too, keep that in mind.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Stay flexible…go earlier perhaps, or, go south perhaps if your timeframe isn’t flexible…I’d wait for spring hatch weather to occur first…then have a backup plan for your hunt in case hecla gets hammered with snow
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Hecla could be better weather-wise than areas to the south..,never know!
I agree with Banger. Be flexible if you can. This makes it tough for lodging though...we bailed last minute last year due to a bad snowstorm and went south into KS instead and had a great time. Not the first time we have pivoted...hunting in miserable weather is just no fun.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Hopefully lodging isn’t too tough in early December….a good backup locale could be Redfield or Huron…stick close to the James River, you’ll find CREP…seeing all the public ground near the ND border, I’d try that unless a tough hatch or lots of snow in early Dec….
I've had some places that I have looked into have a non refundable policy. Some are deposit only at 50%, but that can still be significant. I would look into areas with maybe a few lodging options that 1) allow dogs and 2) are flexible on their cancellation policy, say within 48-72 hrs.Hopefully lodging isn’t too tough in early December….a good backup locale could be Redfield or Huron…stick close to the James River, you’ll find CREP…seeing all the public ground near the ND border, I’d try that unless a tough hatch or lots of snow in early Dec….
Keep in mind that some of the hotels up there may charge an extra $25-50/night (PER dog)...now is the time to narrow down your options and get stuff booked out.
benelli-banger
Well-known member
Britton isn’t too far away, more amenities there…maybe base there…can’t hunt til 10, a 15 minute drive or even an hour drive is no biggy…
benelli-banger
Well-known member
I’ve stayed at northern lights inn in Britton…I liked it…I just called, $25 per dog per stay…quite a bit there in Britton as far as food, etc…and public land everywhere! I’ve never seen so much!! You could hunt within 20 miles of Hecla and Britton, and never hunt the same public ground in several weeks! I loved my Britton trips…granted, was there earlier…some guys hunted ducks on ND side, some hunted pheasants on ND side (1/2 hour before sunrise?)…SD pheasant is 10 am…a guy got his $ worth! Contacted grouse up there too…ND…a bit further West…
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