Trip Advice - Pending Weather

G

GreenheadKAG

New member
I've been planning my first SD trip all summer long. I was planning on leaving Pennsylvania Sunday morning. With the pending cold/snow I'm looking for some local advice on whether it's worth the 21 hr drive out (and back)(and hotel cost/fuel cost/etc/etc) or if I should just pocket my vacation time for another time. I'm seeing reports of up to 8in of snow, which could be challenging for my dog (and me..). I wasn't planning on limiting out every day (hoping though), but I don't want to make the drive just to get stuck in a hotel room or stranded on Rt90. Thanks in advance.
 
First snow of the year often equates with pheasants that are easier to harvest. Bring some warm boots and gaiters and you should be fine.

I would go.
 
I agree. First snow of the year will be awesome. You may lose a day to the weather, but SD knows how to deal with the snow and will get it dealt with. It will be an adventure either way.
 
If I had the option of hunting two days a year it would be opening day of resident season and the day after the first measurable snow. Most roosters are first year birds and have no idea what to do or how to handle the snow. It can make for some easy pickings if you are hunting an area with birds around. Travel may slow you a bit the first day. But after that as long as you have the proper gear for the elements you should do well.
 
Greenhead, I left PA on Thursday morning, am sitting in Aberdeen now. Forecast is dependent on where you're coming 1-8" on the highest estimate, I wouldn't worry about it. Good thing is it will be cold after, so though the ground is not frozen, some snow might stay. But at least the dirt roads won't be a mess. Bring layers, hand warmers, temps are going to single digits at night. Bird numbers aren't what they were even 5 years ago, but any day is better than the best in a PA gameland or 50 ft wide preserve strips. I hunted James River CREP today and had only 4 roosters in range, killed 2 and kicked out 25 or so hens. Same place 7 years ago was a 15-20 rooster flush day. But my dog had to work for each bird and had contacts no more than 20 minutes apart, so good stuff. I'm heading to the Rt 90 area in a few days, they are expecting much less snow. 4" is ideal, go for it!
 
Arghhh!!

We are literally packed up & ready to head out - forecast there not looking so great and getting worse.

Snow - okay (seems a couple inches would be great)
Cold, okay
Plummeting temps into teens w/15+ mph constant winds, ouch!!

Those temps & wind coupled w/potentially 10-12" of snow!

2.5 y.o. GSP who is experienced - he's green broke & he does have a fair amount of experience but not mecca SD wild phez experience.

What to do??

Seriously considering pulling the plug on the trip :(

Any experienced advice and or real time boots on the ground reports would be very much appreciated.
 
I dont have the opportunity to go west this year ... you guys are loaded and contemplating pulling the plug because of 'normal' weather? this isnt life threatening so I cant believe youre even having this discussion. What I wouldnt give to be in your position....
 
Hmmm - you're driving into a huge storm that could extend your drive time by several hours. Some parts of I90 in MN get closed if the weather is bad - same for parts of SD.

Getting around on the back roads could be iffy as well. I would include a shovel and tow rope in your vehicle - we did get stuck last year driving in a cut field and had to be shoveled out.

Good luck and stay safe.
 
Pick up and go it's likely the end of fall if they don't get a warmup. Best time to go is right when your going. Hunt 45 minutes get in truck, drive to next batch of heavy cover rinse repeat. Have fun most of all!
 
You'll probably be traveling south of the storm most of the time...

Murdo area only getting 3" of snow.
 
I will give you a little story of about 5-6 years ago. They were calling for a snowstorm as we headed north. Once they said the word blizzard my wife started freaking out. Listen if you have cold weather gear, hats, boots, coveralls. As jonny said pack a shovel, some extra food etc. You are not going to DIE:). The hunting will be excellent.

FYI if they shut down 90, don't try secondary roads, that was a bad decision on my part. Find a hotel an hole up for a night, or gas up and sleep in your rig. Either way you look at it it would be an experience. If I could I would be with you in a minute.
 
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Gentlemen - all

Thank you for the guidance.

I should have been just a bit more clear. My primary concern is/was the dog.
He is not a stranger to adverse conditions however this represents something which commands a far greater sensitivity to his welfare than I have been accustomed.

When I consider Pheasant hunting & when we go in PA & such...we literally go n walkabout. We'll hunt nearly all day w/no mind to how far into the thick we go...hence my mindset.

The idea of going on 45 min excursions (which means walking no further than 20'ish min from the truck) is spot on here and something I hadn't even considered.

We are geared up for this & although some considerations must be taken, the driving etc is not a major concern for me. My wife is from Aberdeen originally so she is no stranger to it.

Again...thank you all for chiming in...we are about 2hrs into the 24 hr drive as this is written...SOUTH DAKOTA - HERE WE COME!!!

(This is so awesome!!!)

Cheers :cheers:
 
I am heading out tomorrow, how will a car do on the dirt roads with a coupe inches of snow. also the thing that worries me the most is the extreme cold next week lows -2 highes 16
 
With a short- haired dog, a neoprene vest could help ward off the cold.

What part of the state will you hunt?

Good hunting...
 
cattails said:
I am heading out tomorrow, how will a car do on the dirt roads with a coupe inches of snow. also the thing that worries me the most is the extreme cold next week lows -2 highes 16
Click to expand...

Depending on the amount of snow and how soon the counties and townships get the plows out a car could be dicey if we get very much snow.
 
Snow And Wind

One of the biggest thing to watch out for is the snow drifts. I plowed into one last year so hard I'm surprised my air bag did not deploy...stopped me dead...glad I had a good shovel. I also pulled one of the locals out of a drift, he was on the verge of exhaustion from running a shovel. The hunting can be good, just make sure to cover up...last year my nose and ears got a good dose of frostbite.
 
Drift

We went last year, from North Carolina, second week in December; turned out to be the coldest temps for that week on record; one morning minus 19, never above zero, and a foot of snow. We left the airport, headed for a CREP field, and were totally bogged in a snowdrift in 30 minutes. Bless the local farmer who putted over on his John Deere and cheerfully pulled us out--for free.
This year we are going next week and expected better; guess again! Actually, it doesn't look that bad; snow, when you're from NC, is a novelty and fun, long as it's not monster; this probably won't be. Go and have an adventure; we hope to. But as a previous writer said, beware of secondary roads; the drift that trapped us we never saw coming.
 
Giver it Hell!!! Sw Minnesota is only suposed to get 1-3". Its going to be in the 30's during the day so the salt will be keeping the roads clean. The mn metro area is going to take the brunt of it. Just be flexible and stay a little south. Do It:thumbsup:
 
Tbear said:
Giver it Hell!!! Sw Minnesota is only suposed to get 1-3". Its going to be in the 30's during the day so the salt will be keeping the roads clean. The mn metro area is going to take the brunt of it. Just be flexible and stay a little south. Do It:thumbsup:
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Trevor, you better look at the forecast again. Looks more like 6-7 inches with highs after Monday in the low 20's and upper teens.
 
Thanks for the words of encouragement. Spending the night in Des Moines and will be finishing off the last 5 hrs of the trip tomorrow morn - hopefully not too delayed from the weather. 995 miles in one day (with just me and the dog in the truck) made for a LONG day.. Looking forward to putting my boots on the ground tomorrow (and stopping at Cabelas in Mitchell).
 
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