South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Is Changing, Or Has Changed

O

oscar

Active member
I have been hunting in the Winner area for the past 29 years. When I started, the streets and bars were packed on Friday and Saturday night. The motels were full as were the restaurants and diners. Last week, the town was all but dead. I saw very few other hunters at Runnings or the pheasant cleaning spot. Restaurants were not that busy and one was closed. The word was even the strippers had left for greener pastures. The Thursday night steak fry at the American Legion was mostly locals, not large numbers of hunters.

One of the other members of my party says it is due to the fancy resorts and hunting clubs. There are fewer older hunters and the younger ones are willing to pay BIG money for 4 or 5 star accommodations and pen raised birds with your bank account being the only limit. He has been to one or two of these places on corporate junkets. The Holiday Inn had one group cancel 20 rooms a few days before they were to arrive. The hotel was pretty empty all week and they had no waiting list.

The farmer I have been with all of these years still has a waiting list, but he is the exception. I was the oldest one there and I don't know if I will make it next year. They were very good to me and let me drive one of the trucks this year. I did a lot of blocking and got some good shooting. That makes me hopeful for next year.

This is just my opinion based on my observations last weekend.
 
It's becoming the norm, so many sports just aren't doing well. I was at a motorcycle rally this past June and the majority of the crowd had white or no hair. so, more opportunities for us. adapt and prosper.
 
I found the same thing, where is everyone.. the town was dead and we never had competition at a public spot. They have to be at the lodges and paying for private hunts.
 
I hunt with a group (from Denver and other parts of the country) that's been going to Winner for 10 or more years. I've noticed the same thing over the last few years. We always stayed at The Warrior Inn (changed name to Knights Inn) and it's now closed. At least those of us with dogs stayed there. This year it will be the Super 8. Markedly fewer hunters in Winner than in years past. We will be there starting Nov. 9.
 
When I first saw those fancy hunting farms pop up 20 years ago or so I was very concerned, because I knew that just the average Joe blow farmer was going to start charging big money for one day of hunting, just to get on the land. I hunted on one of those places near Gregory South Dakota 22 years ago, and it was very expensive. It caters to people who probably only hunt once a year.
 
PairOfLabs said:
I hunt with a group (from Denver and other parts of the country) that's been going to Winner for 10 or more years. I've noticed the same thing over the last few years. We always stayed at The Warrior Inn (changed name to Knights Inn) and it's now closed. At least those of us with dogs stayed there. This year it will be the Super 8. Markedly fewer hunters in Winner than in years past. We will be there starting Nov. 9.
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So do all those gucci lodges have all the land tied up? If there are still places to hunt without paying and there birds to be had why wouldn’t the hunters still come
 
I typically hunt near popular SD pheasant destinations/towns, and I think I can count on one hand how many times I’ve wanted to hunt a spot but someone was already there. I hope everyone goes to fancy lodges and lets me have free rein of the public. I always hear “the public has been pounded” yet I rarely see anyone around.
 
Citori16 said:
So do all those gucci lodges have all the land tied up? If there are still places to hunt without paying and there birds to be had why wouldn’t the hunters still come
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It’s the younger crowd that isn’t as interested. I have two sons aged 34 and 27. They talk about wanting to go but between work and family they aren’t that committed. It makes me sad, but we manage a trip every other year.
 
Access and success are needed for recruitment.

I’m 45. Have been lucky to have had some amazing hunts over the last 30+ years. Early success on private ground in Kansas, then some phenomenal public ground success kept the drive up to get through the lean times.

Been going to SD on private ground the last 5 years. Phenomenal hunts thanks to my out of state buddies who have local contacts. Truly my golden age of pheasant hunting.

The soil bank days and every farmer letting everybody hunt would have been nice. That’s over. Sure you can still get some access. Sure you can still find birds on public. But you’re lying to yourself if you say it’s as easy as it was a few generations back.

We leave on Thursday for SD with my 14 year old boy, my intern at work and his fiancée. They wouldn’t be near as excited if they knew they were walking all day long to maybe get 1 or 2 shots off.
 
cheesy said:
Access and success are needed for recruitment.

I’m 45. Have been lucky to have had some amazing hunts over the last 30+ years. Early success on private ground in Kansas, then some phenomenal public ground success kept the drive up to get through the lean times.

Been going to SD on private ground the last 5 years. Phenomenal hunts thanks to my out of state buddies who have local contacts. Truly my golden age of pheasant hunting.

The soil bank days and every farmer letting everybody hunt would have been nice. That’s over. Sure you can still get some access. Sure you can still find birds on public. But you’re lying to yourself if you say it’s as easy as it was a few generations back.

We leave on Thursday for SD with my 14 year old boy, my intern at work and his fiancée. They wouldn’t be near as excited if they knew they were walking all day long to maybe get 1 or 2 shots off.
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Your last statement sounds like my few trips to eastern Colorado the last few years. I justify the cost of a trip to SD as "it's for the dogs".
 
The writing was on the wall when SD quit putting out the bird surveys. The folks that occupy the bird-farm lodges don't care what the wild bird numbers are, only those driving many hours to hunt on public or uncle Joe's farm. For several years now, non-residents way outnumber resident SD bird hunters. If grandad or dad has no place to hunt, or can't afford the pay hunts, how will any future generations ever get the opportunity?

Gov. Krispie was concerned once about why all of the small town motels/cafe's etc. in pheasant land were drying up. It's not too hard to figure it out. The guys that used to drive up here to hunt wild birds want to actually get some birds, not just pay large sums of cash just to walk across some CRP. When the lodges house, guide, and feed the hunters, who needs those motels and cafe's?
 
CRP said:
The writing was on the wall when SD quit putting out the bird surveys. The folks that occupy the bird-farm lodges don't care what the wild bird numbers are, only those driving many hours to hunt on public or uncle Joe's farm. For several years now, non-residents way outnumber resident SD bird hunters. If grandad or dad has no place to hunt, or can't afford the pay hunts, how will any future generations ever get the opportunity?

Gov. Krispie was concerned once about why all of the small town motels/cafe's etc. in pheasant land were drying up. It's not too hard to figure it out. The guys that used to drive up here to hunt wild birds want to actually get some birds, not just pay large sums of cash just to walk across some CRP. When the lodges house, guide, and feed the hunters, who needs those motels and cafe's?
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Last year in Winner we had a much tougher time finding a breakfast restaurant that was open.
 
Economy is not helping, prices are thru the roof on just about everything. I and my 2 youngsters went to Wendy’s and cost almost $36. I bout fell over. Gas hotels shells strippers hookers all gouging the honest man. But…all it takes is one Hollywood movie to feature pheasant hunting and look out. Remember A River Runs Through It and what it did for fly fishing? Imagine Raquel Welch in a huntin vest and chaps shootin high brass 5’s. Keep yer powder dry and run em to me.
 
Hunter numbers have fallen here in MN across the board too.

I looked up the historical data for resident license sales about a week ago, just out of curiosity.

Small game (which is primarily pheasant, grouse, and waterfowl) is down a whopping 75% from its peak in 1977.

Deer firearms license sales have stayed relatively flat. Archery licenses have increased recently, presumably because they just legalized the use of crossbows for the general population.

One particular license has increased by a noticeable amount: spring turkey.

In general, the hunting demographic is aging and its not being replaced.
 
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NR licenses have increased markedly in the Dakota’s recently….about $175…second license drops a bit once habitat stamp is purchased with first license…$150 or so at that point. My lodging has kitchens in both states, saves some $…I enjoy cooking/grilling and entertaining farmers…at least gas is a bargain, still paying prices we paid 15 years ago or more…I figure under $3 is a bargain, most of this year starting in early sept it has been there in MN, ND, SD…probably averaged $2.80…but even still, 600-700 gallons spread across 4 months is $2000 give or take, I drive solo…split a few ways it’s still not a huge amount if traveling with another guy
 
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