South dakota (and north) roadside survey.

A5 Sweet 16 said:
Uh, regarding Watertown. I know someone who shoots a LOT of pheasants within 30 miles of it. Mostly public land birds. In recent years, I've hunted up there with him once a year. Just driving around I've seen more birds (& fewer hunters) there than in the areas further south, where I typically hunt, which are pretty decent to begin with. Codington County may not be the best place in the state, but it's far from dismal. I know that sounds like some pretty serious hot spotting, but it really has no affect on the hunting. Anyone who wants to hunt "my" spots by Salem, Ramona, & Colman is welcome to them. They're public.

Edit....ope, I see the harvest map & report are out. 37 birds per square mile shot in Codington County last season.
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These people are going to show up,regardless of this thing.Every year I see more.I wonder if there are some people named Wiesner, around watertown?
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
Golden Hour... have you & your videos been fooling us the last several years? I was of the understanding that the majority of the pheasants you shoot every year come from public land, primarily WPAs, almost all within 30 miles of Watertown, all season long. And I know you're generally not hunting more than a couple/few hours to shoot those birds, usually walking considerably less than 5 miles a hunt. And your videos indicate good numbers of pheasants in those areas. Are you, in fact, hunting cherry, unpressured private land all season long? Or are the people that say there aren't many birds around those areas simply not hunting them the right way or at the right times of day? I mean, I honestly think in general Codington County public land is equal to or better than much of the public land I commonly hunt in Moody & Lake Counties. And I feel like I see/shoot plenty of pheasants in those "dismal" spots. Time to
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A5 Sweet 16 said:
Golden Hour... have you & your videos been fooling us the last several years? I was of the understanding that the majority of the pheasants you shoot every year come from public land, primarily WPAs, almost all within 30 miles of Watertown, all season long. And I know you're generally not hunting more than a couple/few hours to shoot those birds, usually walking considerably less than 5 miles a hunt. And your videos indicate good numbers of pheasants in those areas. Are you, in fact, hunting cherry, unpressured private land all season long? Or are the people that say there aren't many birds around those areas simply not hunting them the right way or at the right times of day? I mean, I honestly think in general Codington County public land is equal to or better than much of the public land I commonly hunt in Moody & Lake Counties. And I feel like I see/shoot plenty of pheasants in those "dismal" spots. Time to come clean, GH.
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He must be on private land.
 
PeteRevvv said:
Sure, 50 miles west of Kampeska.
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You stick to ur story but anybody who thinks you have to get clear out by the Jim river in SD to find many pheasants has a bad idea of how/where/when to find pheasants. The hiway 81 corridor is pretty damn good from Summit clear down to Yankton. Might have to know something about phez & work a little, but if you ain't willing you don't deserve to kill them..
 
Flushedup said:
I'm out in SD right now, gonna be taking a couple kids around for the youth hunt and will report what I see!
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Youth hunt is a blast. We did that before our kids aged out. I really miss it - Have the whole state to yourself and every piece of public ground is virgin. I think we saw one other truck in 4 years.
 
I can't say I agree with youth hunts, or special demographic hunts in general. I'm all for youth participating, but they have gone too far on special youth hunts.

Early youth waterfowl hunts, early youth deer hunts, season long youth turkey hunts, etc. Its become a disadvantage for every one else that has to wait for the general opener. When I was a kid, if I wanted to hunt, I went on opener like everyone else.

In the words of Goose, its a bunch of rubes.
 
gimruis said:
I can't say I agree with youth hunts, or special demographic hunts in general. I'm all for youth participating, but they have gone too far on special youth hunts.

Early youth waterfowl hunts, early youth deer hunts, season long youth turkey hunts, etc. Its become a disadvantage for every one else that has to wait for the general opener. When I was a kid, if I wanted to hunt, I went on opener like everyone else.

In the words of Goose, its a bunch of rubes.
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I don't make the laws. But a 12 year old kid can use some handicap to create a great experience. Most adults have the attention span, shooting/hunting experience, and physical ability to burn boot leather all day to scrap out a few birds on public land. This is a chance to build some great family memories and get kids excited about hunting. And as I stated - I saw one other truck in 4 years. This is not moving the needle on educating birds or reducing the population.
 
I get it. State agencies can see hunter participation dropping and aging. Not just pheasant hunting, but hunting in general. So they have to do something. Their jobs depend on it because most operate heavily on license revenue.

I still oppose it. My son will not be participating. If he wants to hunt he can go on opener like everyone else.
 
Bob Peters said:
Hey, at least in yankton you might find a quail covey that flew across the Nebraska border.
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Perhaps, although I'd love to see quail fly across the Missouri. Maybe they'd walk across the dam. I actually grew up in Yankton, so as a kid that's where my hunting took place. I saw quail a grand total of 3 times. Shot 2. Only upland birds other than pheasant that I've ever shot.
 
gimruis said:
I get it. State agencies can see hunter participation dropping and aging. Not just pheasant hunting, but hunting in general. So they have to do something. Their jobs depend on it because most operate heavily on license revenue.

I still oppose it. My son will not be participating. If he wants to hunt he can go on opener like everyone else.
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What a Donkey.

Took a 17 yr old, a 10 yr old out today and moved about 40 birds in an hour. Great fun was had by all. Tough scenting conditions, but the dogs were happy as hell to get out. Shot at 5 birds, 1 in the cooler tonight. 😎
 
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