Unguided hunt…

B

badgerfb

New member
My husband and I are looking for an unguided pheasant hunt. We have never been to South Dakota but would like to experience what’s offers. Please send email if have any recommendations.
 
Always an issue between good numbers of birds and hunter density. But gems can be found, might take time or $$. Don’t base your trip on
just one year. Approach it as a vacation first and a hunting trip second. Enjoy
 
Good Private land with spoil you. We have a big group so need many birds to keep the masses happy. If it’s just the two of you, public ground should be just fine. Scout after sunrise and hunt next to standing corn as birds will come back to grass to roost before sunset.
 
badgerfb said:
My husband and I are looking for an unguided pheasant hunt. We have never been to South Dakota but would like to experience what’s offers. Please send email if have any recommendations.
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What's your experience level hunting truly wild pheasants? Done it 0-50 days total? 50-100? 100-150? How about your dog(s)? Got any of those? Their experience level? What breed? Finding good places to hunt is super easy. Hunting them the right way at the right time of day isn't. Just trying to assess how much help you might need finding pheasants.
 
A5 Sweet 16 said:
What's your experience level hunting truly wild pheasants? Done it 0-50 days total? 50-100? 100-150? How about your dog(s)? Got any of those? Their experience level? What breed? Finding good places to hunt is super easy. Hunting them the right way at the right time of day isn't. Just trying to assess how much help you might need finding pheasants.
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That’s a good point. Funny how much different peoples experiences are when they go to SD to hunt. People here that have never been there hear stories of flushes that block out the sun and are disappointed when their experience is much tougher. Years of experience has taught me where to look and for the most part how they act. Even though I have seen some unbelievable hunting there over the years it is never my expectation. If I guy has the knowledge and is willing to learn he can certainly get his birds. Funny I found a 160 acre CREP field not far from Aberdeen full of birds last year that appeared to not be over hunted. This was several weeks into the season.
 
carptom1 said:
That’s a good point. Funny how much different peoples experiences are when they go to SD to hunt. People here that have never been there hear stories of flushes that block out the sun and are disappointed when their experience is much tougher. Years of experience has taught me where to look and for the most part how they act. Even though I have seen some unbelievable hunting there over the years it is never my expectation. If I guy has the knowledge and is willing to learn he can certainly get his birds. Funny I found a 160 acre CREP field not far from Aberdeen full of birds last year that appeared to not be over hunted. This was several weeks into the season.
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As some folks here know, I'm a pretty avid pheasant hunter & consider myself a student of the pheasant. I try to hunt 30+ times a season & have done it over 40 years. I know some pretty good areas & usually have a good idea how to hunt them. Yet it's typically not easy, & occasionally I still get skunked, although I know beyond a shadow of a doubt there are 100s of pheasants somewhere within a 1/2 mile of me. Many YouTube videos of SD pheasant hunting don't resemble real SD pheasant hunting at all.
 
Have a buddy coming out for his first SD trip this year. He has a young pointing dog and while he will be staying with us he will be for the most part hunting on his own. I will share any info that will help to make his trip successful but have also made sure his expectations are very low given first trip and all. He has seen the pics from our years of trips but fully knows that there is a learning curve even though it is SD.
 
Matt D said:
I will share any info that will help to make his trip successful
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Absolutely the thing to do. I chuckle at people who think giving advice to inexperienced hunters somehow adversely affects their own hunting. No, it doesn't. I love hearing success stories & the excitement with which they're usually told. They're the people who'll get right back out there & try to learn more & someday be able to give their own advice. Fun, fun stuff.
 
badgerfb said:
My husband and I are looking for an unguided pheasant hunt. We have never been to South Dakota but would like to experience what’s offers. Please send email if have any recommendations.
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I know the weather can be unpredictable but after East River deer season getting permission on private property gets easier and competition on the public ground goes way down. Lousy weather pushes birds into the heaviest cover. Lots of that cover is on public property.
 
Looking for Some private Land, around Mitchell SD, For October 22nd or 23rd. Have own Dogs, just two Guns, If you know of anyone, please DM me and happy to further discuss, Don't need Lodging or guides. I understand I have to Pay to Play, just want some private land to hunt on for one of the 4 days hunting.
 
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Within an Hr or So of Mitchell willing to travel. Have buddy coming in from Minnesota, I driving from Colorado Springs.
 
Kno
badgerfb said:
My husband and I are looking for an unguided pheasant hunt. We have never been to South Dakota but would like to experience what’s offers. Please send email if have any recommendations.
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Knowing what I know now after 27 hunting seasons in SD, I would zero in on a line from Mitchell to Kimball on I-90. You go north, south, east, or west of that line and you are in prime time pheasant country. I hunt south of that line 20 miles but look for public access in that general area (the further from I-90 the better) and you'll be in good shape. There are plenty of other excellent regions I'm sure, especially north of that line - I'm just not familiar with them. After Halloween the corn should be out in that area so remaining cover should be loaded. Just my $.02 worth.
 
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A5 Sweet 16 said:
What's your experience level hunting truly wild pheasants? Done it 0-50 days total? 50-100? 100-150? How about your dog(s)? Got any of those? Their experience level? What breed? Finding good places to hunt is super easy. Hunting them the right way at the right time of day isn't. Just trying to assess how much help you might need finding pheasants.
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Yes,good point
 
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