Rooster Hawk
New member
I’ve decided at the last second as a Christmas gift to take my sons on a pheasant hunting trip to SD for the first time next week. My sons are 20 and 17 and the younger one will be signing with Uncle Sam’s Navy in a month or so and who knows when we could do the trip if we don’t do it now. He’s been pheasant hunting with me almost since he could walk in Iowa where I grew up every Thanksgiving and sometimes over Christmas and going to SD has always been a dream of his (and mine).
Tentative plan is to leave on the 26th and then hunt next week for 3 or 4 days. I am not looking nor can afford going to some expensive lodge and we are fine hunting public land. We have a 2 year old viszla rescue that has not been trained but worked decent over thanksgiving (haven’t had him long and live near Chicago so no access to birds). My son has picked Huron / Chamberlain / Mitchell areas based on some things he’s researched. Seems we can find Airbnb’s and or hotels that are reasonable in those areas.
Since a few of you are the experts I thought I’d post and get your opinions / advice. My questions:
Are these good areas with plenty of public land? Any other recommendations?
Any lodging recommendations that are clean and reasonable?
I’ve looked at this board for years and reading some posts over the last few years make it sound like SD hunting isn’t what is use to be - should we just go to Iowa and save the money as we have private land and places to stay for free? I’d like to experience that ultimate SD hunt with my sons but some things I’ve read on here scare me a bit.
Any advice for what you can do regarding training of a 2 year old viszla for next spring / summer? We take wings to the local dog parks with some cover but that’s about it in the few months we’ve had him.
The dream about SD hunting is you will see more birds than you’ve ever seen and if you can shoot you’ll limit out. It would be great to see lots of wild birds but that’s not necessarily what I expect however I’d like to not get shutout over 3/4 days. I know either way we will have fun together and create some memories and I appreciate any advice / suggestions.
Thanks in advance and merry Christmas!
Tentative plan is to leave on the 26th and then hunt next week for 3 or 4 days. I am not looking nor can afford going to some expensive lodge and we are fine hunting public land. We have a 2 year old viszla rescue that has not been trained but worked decent over thanksgiving (haven’t had him long and live near Chicago so no access to birds). My son has picked Huron / Chamberlain / Mitchell areas based on some things he’s researched. Seems we can find Airbnb’s and or hotels that are reasonable in those areas.
Since a few of you are the experts I thought I’d post and get your opinions / advice. My questions:
Are these good areas with plenty of public land? Any other recommendations?
Any lodging recommendations that are clean and reasonable?
I’ve looked at this board for years and reading some posts over the last few years make it sound like SD hunting isn’t what is use to be - should we just go to Iowa and save the money as we have private land and places to stay for free? I’d like to experience that ultimate SD hunt with my sons but some things I’ve read on here scare me a bit.
Any advice for what you can do regarding training of a 2 year old viszla for next spring / summer? We take wings to the local dog parks with some cover but that’s about it in the few months we’ve had him.
The dream about SD hunting is you will see more birds than you’ve ever seen and if you can shoot you’ll limit out. It would be great to see lots of wild birds but that’s not necessarily what I expect however I’d like to not get shutout over 3/4 days. I know either way we will have fun together and create some memories and I appreciate any advice / suggestions.
Thanks in advance and merry Christmas!