Worth driving 22hrs.

Long Drive

I have been a frequent visitor to this site but rarely post but this subject has prompted me to come out. I started going to Iowa pheasant hunting in 1987, from my home here in Michigan. CRP came in really big around 1995 and the hunting was fabulous until it starting going out around 2005. The pheasant numbers dropped dramatically and in 2007, we started going to South Dakota. We saw numbers of birds there that we had never seen in Iowa, even in the good years. Now, I'm afraid that SD may be going the same way that Iowa did. But, at the same time, South Dakota still is the premier location to go for pheasants. My drive is about 17 hours. I will be going out this November. Yes, my expectations are tempered but I don't mind putting in a lot of miles because of reduced numbers. I saw days in Iowa where we literally didn't fire a shot all day. I think we have all been spoiled by the huge numbers of the past years. This unfortunately may become the new normal if CRP continues to go out and farming practices continue to evolve as they have the last 10 years.
 
When I was young and full of vinegar, I would make a plan, and go 800 miles to find bird hunting. My enthusiasm has not changed buy 30 years have made it a little struggle! At one time before the great increase of fuel, I calculated that I spent about 10.00 per quail bagged, and a lot more to harvest a few sharptails, huns, pheasants. It's an excercise in futility! I have had many of great trips where the bird population was meager. I sight see, the burning uderground coal veins in North Dakota, badlands in South Dakota, Ft. Robison in Nebraska, Devils monument in Wyoming, even the "home on the range" site in Kansas. Knocked on doors, got good conversations, got a flavor of the community. I'd do it all again. I remember the details of the area, interesting but I never remember the game bag. Who cares about the bag limit, heck man I was there, saw it myself. Memories thats why we go! If you want to count bags, be a waterfowler. Sit on your but, and see the same old dreary marsh all day, shoot till there's a haze, and figure out who your going to give them to. No dogs to excercise in the off season, limited physical demands, companionship with guys who drive their wife's Mary Kay car hunting, and have to get permission. Or an honest to heaven foot hunt against the elements, the home range of the quarry, seeing rattlesnakes, wolves, grizzly bears, (yes I have), with a guy who you can rely on to do his part. My daughter's 16, twins, would rather drive 6 hours to be in average upland cover than drive literally 30 minutes to be in a pretty nice duck club I belong to, so would I. It's the thick and the thin, a lot of people gave up on upland hunting, shoot targets, duck hunt, or retired. That leaves it to us, I remember good and bad for years, I never considered it, excepted to explore new horizons, I am doing that now, as long as I can. In a year where every bird is an trophy, and a conversation piece. Let the lightweight's go stand in the corner. Me I'm fine tuning the dogs, made arrangements to explore new territory, see new sites. I hope you find some birds out there! If you want to join me. PM me.
 
Being from PA as well I have a little different view on things. I would love to get out west for a hunt sometime but due to work schedule and the distance to travel it is not going to happen soon. The best I can do is go after the released birds on public land in PA. The state will release 200,000 birds again this year. Last year was a very good year for me (for PA standards) and I expect another good year. And I do get my dogs on wild pheasants in PA. I've been helping out with the flushing surveys in Jan. and Feb. the past few years and it is a good way to help the future of pheasants in PA. Even though bird numbers may be down in SD and you feel the trip isn't worth it this year, you can still have a memorable year on pheasants. Good luck.
 
Wisconsin is much the same way. This year, the DNR is releasing 75,000 birds which is way up from 54,000 last year. In my part of the State, I'm almost entirely dependent on released birds for my hunting, but at least I get to go. And I'm pretty sure my pup's tail wag as she gets closer to a stocked bird isn't that much different looking than if she got up to a hiding wild bird.

Wisconsin does have some wild birds. Here, the way they estimate/survey wild bird populations is by having rural mail carriers report bird sightings. This year, the average over the areas surveyed was 0.36 birds seen per 100 miles of road driven. Roughly that means if you drive 300 miles of rural roads, you should see one pheasant. Even with the down reports for SD this year, the average is over 1 bird per square mile. Sounds to a guy from Wisconsin like SD is the Pheasant Promised land. :D

I don't have a 22 hour ride, but mine will be 11 hours plus. And I can't wait. :thumbsup:
 
First Year Pheasant Hunting

My first year pheasant hunting in SD was in 92. I go back every year and hunt almost all public property. Even last year I limited everyday in a couple of hours. It's well worth the trip if you ask me. Back in 92, I remember getting out of school and limiting more days than not in the hour we had to hunt. I think if numbers are similar to 92, you should be fine as long as you understand it's hunting and not killing. Nothing better than a cold beer after a long day of pheasant hunting.
 
Are bird numbers way down? YES. Are there still lots of birds to hunt? YES. As many have stated, a bad year in SD is still better than anywhere else. I am still seeing birds every day. A lot less than last year, but several days of running my dog for an hour, I could have shot my limit already. My neighbor is the local trapper, and is out every morning and evening checking traps, and he is seeing birds every day. Not as many, but still decent. As far as it being worth it to make the trip this year, next year is just a promise. God forbid, but this year is always someone's last year. Don't waste one, we only get so many. Come have a good time. Eat, drink, laugh, and let birds be a bonus. BTW, talked to a guide/farmer in Clark yesterday, and he said this was worst bird numbers he's seen. Talked to another farmer 20 miles away, and he said he is seeing a good number of birds on his farm. If you come, be flexible, and move around if you have to,
 
I drive 28 hours for the past 4 years and this one will be no exception. Even the numbers are lower, they are still higher than the rest of the country.
 
Reifer said:
My first year pheasant hunting in SD was in 92. I go back every year and hunt almost all public property. Even last year I limited everyday in a couple of hours. It's well worth the trip if you ask me. Back in 92, I remember getting out of school and limiting more days than not in the hour we had to hunt. I think if numbers are similar to 92, you should be fine as long as you understand it's hunting and not killing. Nothing better than a cold beer after a long day of pheasant hunting.
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This is the guy after my own heart.
 
Pheasant farms (game preserves)what ever are great and all but the great times and memories of West Central SD are just not the same for me. The serenity I feel being there is second to none. Last year the bird counts were around 6 per mile. We limited in 53 minutes, 3 1/2 hours and 35 minutes respectively. Counts are a little over two a miles this year. We'll get birds. Maybe not limits but I could care a less. I've been doing this long enough to know that your good dogs only get so many seasons and they go by quickly.
 
I'm just curious.

Byrdoglvr, gsppurist, pcolagsp, Reifer, 519vx, are you guys:

Paying to hunt private land wild birds?

Not paying and hunting private land with family/friends wild birds?

Not paying hunting public land?

Paying private land and hunting released birds?

I'm curious because I would be much more willing to go to South Dakota during a down year if I was hunting private land and not paying with family/friends.
 
Byrdoglvr said:
Pheasant farms (game preserves)what ever are great and all but the great times and memories of West Central SD are just not the same for me. The serenity I feel being there is second to none. Last year the bird counts were around 6 per mile. We limited in 53 minutes, 3 1/2 hours and 35 minutes respectively. Counts are a little over two a miles this year. We'll get birds. Maybe not limits but I could care a less. I've been doing this long enough to know that your good dogs only get so many seasons and they go by quickly.
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Well said:cheers:
 
NOPLCLKNEB said:
I'm just curious.

Byrdoglvr, gsppurist, pcolagsp, Reifer, 519vx, are you guys:

Paying to hunt private land wild birds?

Not paying and hunting private land with family/friends wild birds?

Not paying hunting public land?

Paying private land and hunting released birds?

I'm curious because I would be much more willing to go to South Dakota during a down year if I was hunting private land and not paying with family/friends.
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I have basically three days to hunt (promised the wife I would be home early enough that Sunday to watch the Packers crush the Vikings). I am fortunate that I will be spending part of my first day hunting completely wild birds on private property owned by a new friend met here on this website. I'm just I tickled about that!! The balance of my trip will be spent hunting wild birds on property available to the public including some time on the Fort Pierre National grasslands targeting prairie chickens

That said, I have a LOT of hours in researching what I think could be productive spots many of which could be 50 or more miles apart. For me this research and the conversations I've had (mostly via email or messenger) have made the planning part of the trip fun. I'm hopeful yet reasonable in my expectations. Mostly this for me is a mental break from the daily stresses of life and a chance to enjoy some new places and time with my pup Sage.
 
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Byrdoglvr said:
Pheasant farms (game preserves)what ever are great and all but the great times and memories of West Central SD are just not the same for me. The serenity I feel being there is second to none. Last year the bird counts were around 6 per mile. We limited in 53 minutes, 3 1/2 hours and 35 minutes respectively. Counts are a little over two a miles this year. We'll get birds. Maybe not limits but I could care a less. I've been doing this long enough to know that your good dogs only get so many seasons and they go by quickly.
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Ding, ding, ding! Another man that gets it:cheers::10sign:
 
Complete turn around for me, I have now decided to go and enjoy myself birds or no birds, I enjoy seeing my brittany in the field, and to know that any moment he could go on point over a wild rooster does it for me. Since you can't hunt until 10am, we get out in the morning just riding the roads and enjoying the views and the game we see along the way. While northeast Pa is beautiful especially this time of year, the change of terrain and the sights of South Dakota are special. I am now 63 years of age, only one being knows how many times I'll be able to enjoy the trip. Thanks to everyone who responded, it was a good tread.

Good and safe hunting to all this fall.
 
With the end game (habitat loss) now played out in our beloved SD..2013 will be known as the year that upland bird hunting died in this country.
 
There are WAY too many variables in pheasant hunting to say you're going to have a good hunt or bad hunt based on the state's roadside survey. I'll give you another example. I talked to a farmer who lives near the SD border who said he was seeing lots of "sparrow-sized" chicks early last month due to a wet early summer. Those chicks might not have even hatched when the roadside survey was performed. Also, the weather conditions during your hunt play a huge role. I'd rather have snow on the ground and crops out in a down year than hot weather and crops up in an up year. Remember that SD has more birds than anywhere else even in the worst years. If a roadside count of "only" 2 birds per mile isn't enough for you, then you probably don't like pheasant hunting all that much. Those are record levels most other places.
 
dead pheasants forever said:
There are WAY too many variables in pheasant hunting to say you're going to have a good hunt or bad hunt based on the state's roadside survey. I'll give you another example. I talked to a farmer who lives near the SD border who said he was seeing lots of "sparrow-sized" chicks early last month due to a wet early summer. Those chicks might not have even hatched when the roadside survey was performed. Also, the weather conditions during your hunt play a huge role. I'd rather have snow on the ground and crops out in a down year than hot weather and crops up in an up year. Remember that SD has more birds than anywhere else even in the worst years. If a roadside count of "only" 2 birds per mile isn't enough for you, then you probably don't like pheasant hunting all that much. Those are record levels most other places.
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I talked a bit to a gal that took my hotel reservation, she also made the observation that people are seeing quite a few young birds.
 
I got out last night to do some scouting. Stayed in chamberlain . Left early this morning and headed northwest, primarily on hard surface roads early to get somewhere, and the on gravel after it got daylight . I bought a license at 1144 this morning and hit a pasture north of presho for some grouse action. When i bought my license, the clerk asked me if I was sure I wanted it. Lol I said yes, I'm sure.So far today, in my travels i have seen 2 prairie chickens and 1deer. Got a great point on the pair of chickens with a back from the old dog. Missed on the first shot, connected on the second, but realistically,I should've had a double. With that said, I'm still having a great time, although it's raining really,really hard now. The focus of my travels has been in grouse country, but, I would think I would've seen a fez by now. Headed to another pasture.. It truly is gorgeous here right now . Crops are gonna fall fast as soon as this front goesthru I think. No ability to get down the dirt roads right now..
 
Good report - right from the field in the center of the possible action!

Good luck and shooting. Perhaps you'll send another report?
 
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