South dakota (and north) roadside survey.

B

Bob Peters

Well-known member
I know the state canceled the official report. I'm here to tell you with my own words derived from what I've seen with my own eyes the last few days. The dakota territories are littered with birds. Morning? Yep, they're all over, high noon? I almost smoked a hen with the bumper, a few hours later a rooster. Both times I jammed the brakes and the birds were unscathed. Don't listen to the weather nazi's proclaiming cold rains and flooded nests. These birds have amazed me where they've shown up, and shown up big. Ag fields, there's more birds then I've ever seen in my life. Then as I like to cruise the backroads I'd see more birds in hayfields than I've seen in MN eyeballing for the last 3
months. I was honestly on sensory overload. I would go hunting regardless of conditions, but I can definitely say this year will be above average.
 

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Boots on the ground is always a better scouting mission than an online report, or lack thereof.

Especially if its in the immediate area you intend to hunt. It'll only get better as there's less places to hide too, like a sea of standing corn.
 
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Bob Peters said:
I know the state canceled the official report. I'm here to tell you with my own words derived from what I've seen with my own eyes the last few days. The dakota territories are littered with birds. Morning? Yep, they're all over, high noon? I almost smoked a hen with the bumper, a few hours later a rooster. Both times I jammed the brakes and the birds were unscathed. Don't listen to the weather nazi's proclaiming cold rains and flooded nests. These birds have amazed me where they've shown up, and shown up big. Ag fields, there's more birds then I've ever seen in my life. Then as I like to cruise the backroads I'd see more birds in hayfields than I've seen in MN eyeballing for the last 3
months. I was honestly on sensory overload. I would go hunting regardless of conditions, but I can definitely say this year will be above average.
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What was the general area you scouted?
 
I'd like to give my observations from the area around Watertown. At least once a week I ride motorcycle with some friends and we generally cover an area of approximately a 50 mile radius of Watertown. We ride on almost exclusively county roads and stay off main highways. Leaving around 9:00 AM and returning early afternoon. We usually put on 150-200 miles. This past month I have been lucky to see 1 pheasant per ride. Now I know that the area around Watertown has not been the pheasant hotbed it once was. I've lived here 13 years and the numbers have been dismal in the area the entire time. I'm sure there are areas of the state showing good numbers, but not here.
 
From what ive heard, central part is amazing this year for numbers. I think it’s gonna depend on rain totals everywhere had around June 20-22. Some areas were insanely high, well over a foot.
 
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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A5 Sweet 16 said:
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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I really have a difficult time believing there were 37 birds per square mile harvested in Codington County. That would put Codington ahead of counties such as Faulk, Potter, Edmunds & Hand. And just slightly behind Clark and Spink. There is no way in hell that Codington produced more pheasants than those 4 counties I listed or was anywhere close to Clark and Spink. Something seems awful fishy with those stats.
 
Dakotazeb said:
I really have a difficult time believing there were 37 birds per square mile harvested in Codington County. That would put Codington ahead of counties such as Faulk, Potter, Edmunds & Hand. And just slightly behind Clark and Spink. There is no way in hell that Codington produced more pheasants than those 4 counties I listed or was anywhere close to Clark and Spink. Something seems awful fishy with those stats.
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Maybe joe biden entered the data into the spread sheets, he seems easily confused and continuously dumbfounded.
 
just seems the same places can't be poor year after year?
i see some some protective posts, year after year, from same guy(s)
 
hunter94 said:
just seems the same places can't be poor year after year?
i see some some protective posts, year after year, from same guy(s)
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Not sure if you may be referring to my post above or not. I would not say anything on this site that would be protective of an area. I have been living in, and hunting South Dakota for 46 years. I've seen alot in that time and hunted many areas of the state. 33 of those years I lived in Aberdeen and for the most part had some very good hunting even in some down years. 13 years ago I moved to Watertown and hunting in this area has not been good at any time during my tenure. Anyone that knows me knows that I tell it like it is. At least from my experiences. I'm sure there are some productive areas around Watertown as Golden Hour would atest. But I haven't found them. I generally have to travel 50-100 miles west, southwest or northwest to find some birds.
 
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