Trucks loaded
- Thread starter Fitfarms
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KSBrittman
Active member
Way to go bud !!! Best of luck on the remainder of your trip , send more pics when you can .
Nice work gents! Looking forward to taking my girls in a few years. Congrats on the birds and forever memories!
On a side note, so glad my uncle took me hunting when I was a kid, turned me on to a lifetime of pursuit. Lost him in a car accident years ago...I've tried to take as many kids as I can to pay it forward.
On a side note, so glad my uncle took me hunting when I was a kid, turned me on to a lifetime of pursuit. Lost him in a car accident years ago...I've tried to take as many kids as I can to pay it forward.
ranchodeluxe
New member
Good stuff, don't think I wanna tangle with ole Grandpa, he looks salty.
Just back from hunting Huron area. Hottest stretch of weather I've hunted pheasants in 35 years chasing those sleugh chickens! A few observations;
Bird numbers at least as good as last year; did not hunt dogs during the hottest stretch of the day, and made sure they remained comfortable inside the topper covered back of the truck. When we did hunt them, we made sure they cooled down sufficiently before loading them; don't underestimate the danger of pushing your dog(s) in this weather; we saw a 3 to 1 rooster to hen ratio; good for the moment, but concerned for the future; normally we hit the cattails hard, but with this hot weather, found birds in lighter cover; birds seemed to hold better than normal, perhaps weather related as well. We had more than normal close flushes throughout our trip, which makes me think the hot weather influenced the birds behavior. We took an extended lunch break, good for the dogs, good for us. It was extremely dry. Amazing, when you consider all the places that flooded 5-6 years ago, places we used to hunt entirely covered in water. Some of those areas dry again. I did see some WPA's planted in crops, which in my view was very sad; more habitat removed; not sure if this will continue, or is a "planned" event and will go back to habitat. The future of SD pheasant hunting is dependent on habitat, and many of the best WIA's we used to hunt are in crops. We don't see the large numbers of birds anymore, but still good numbers and good hunting. Coming to South Dakota is something we truly enjoy.
Bird numbers at least as good as last year; did not hunt dogs during the hottest stretch of the day, and made sure they remained comfortable inside the topper covered back of the truck. When we did hunt them, we made sure they cooled down sufficiently before loading them; don't underestimate the danger of pushing your dog(s) in this weather; we saw a 3 to 1 rooster to hen ratio; good for the moment, but concerned for the future; normally we hit the cattails hard, but with this hot weather, found birds in lighter cover; birds seemed to hold better than normal, perhaps weather related as well. We had more than normal close flushes throughout our trip, which makes me think the hot weather influenced the birds behavior. We took an extended lunch break, good for the dogs, good for us. It was extremely dry. Amazing, when you consider all the places that flooded 5-6 years ago, places we used to hunt entirely covered in water. Some of those areas dry again. I did see some WPA's planted in crops, which in my view was very sad; more habitat removed; not sure if this will continue, or is a "planned" event and will go back to habitat. The future of SD pheasant hunting is dependent on habitat, and many of the best WIA's we used to hunt are in crops. We don't see the large numbers of birds anymore, but still good numbers and good hunting. Coming to South Dakota is something we truly enjoy.
Good trip
All in all we had a good trip. There are birds around but you have to work for them on public ground. Way to hot for the dogs but despite the conditions they found birds and put them up in range. My son loved his first trip to SD to hunt wild birds. He's already buying shells for next year trying to convince my wife to let him miss school again for a return trip. Hope she gives in again next year!!!
All in all we had a good trip. There are birds around but you have to work for them on public ground. Way to hot for the dogs but despite the conditions they found birds and put them up in range. My son loved his first trip to SD to hunt wild birds. He's already buying shells for next year trying to convince my wife to let him miss school again for a return trip. Hope she gives in again next year!!!
Matt D
Well-known member
Glad to hear you and your son had a good time. I leave tomorrow and my 13 year old daughter so wants to go with me but not on this one. Already planning Thanksgiving next year in Iowa for her first out of state bird hunt!