Worth driving 22hrs.
- Thread starter jdk529
- Start date
1. It is a free country. If someone wants to drive 22 hours to SD to hunt birds, have at it.
2. If you make that long drive, will you be happy just "working the dogs" and not shooting many birds? If not, maybe wait till the #'s are up.....
3. The bird numbers are way down for 2013. No amount of sugar-coated Tourism reports will change that.
4. Yes, I live in SD. Yes, I hunted the res. opener Sat. Yes, I shot birds on public land in a known good area. And, yes, there were far fewer birds (and hunters) than expected. Based on what I saw, I will not be in the field next weekend for the traditional opener for the 1st time since 1993.....
2. If you make that long drive, will you be happy just "working the dogs" and not shooting many birds? If not, maybe wait till the #'s are up.....
3. The bird numbers are way down for 2013. No amount of sugar-coated Tourism reports will change that.
4. Yes, I live in SD. Yes, I hunted the res. opener Sat. Yes, I shot birds on public land in a known good area. And, yes, there were far fewer birds (and hunters) than expected. Based on what I saw, I will not be in the field next weekend for the traditional opener for the 1st time since 1993.....
SDJIM
New member
Well the birds are down that's for sure. Having said that Sat evening hunting ducks with friends on a FWA we watched in amazement as pheasants flew out of the standing corn around the FWA---LOTS OF PHEASANTS--Lots of roosters--we had worked this FWA at noon--six hunters 3 good dogs and got one rooster--at least in this area the birds were hiding in the corn.
Then this morning 30 miles away on a private marsh across the road from another FWA we had a cackle off from every rooster around --right at the crack of dawn---it was loud---
So at least at two locations on or near public land there were lots of birds---but still over all not seeing lots of birds.
Don't know what to think---locally good, overall not so good?
Then this morning 30 miles away on a private marsh across the road from another FWA we had a cackle off from every rooster around --right at the crack of dawn---it was loud---
So at least at two locations on or near public land there were lots of birds---but still over all not seeing lots of birds.
Don't know what to think---locally good, overall not so good?
gsppurist
Member
I whole-heartedly agree!!!!:thumbsup:
beach004
Member
"Pheasants are down, but SD aims high"
Not exactly sure where to put this info; but it's too relevant not to get into the hands of the folks like me who are hoping to come from long distances and hunt again this year: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013310130027&nclick_check=1 A very helpful article from the Sioux Falls newspaper (remember those?)
Gist of it is: We are important to the SD economy; just not as important as high dollar corn. And I at least don't know how to overcome that. Money talks.
But: My two sons-in-law, my daughter and I, have our tickets to come again, even though last year we only got five birds total in four days of hard hunting. Because there ARE no pheasants in North Carolina. See you in Platte, come December.
Beach004
Not exactly sure where to put this info; but it's too relevant not to get into the hands of the folks like me who are hoping to come from long distances and hunt again this year: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013310130027&nclick_check=1 A very helpful article from the Sioux Falls newspaper (remember those?)
Gist of it is: We are important to the SD economy; just not as important as high dollar corn. And I at least don't know how to overcome that. Money talks.
But: My two sons-in-law, my daughter and I, have our tickets to come again, even though last year we only got five birds total in four days of hard hunting. Because there ARE no pheasants in North Carolina. See you in Platte, come December.
Beach004
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1pheas4
Moderator
LOL..That's a good name for it Jim--A "Cackle-off". I've only witnessed that one time and it was really something to listen too. Churp-churp-churp--CACKLE! All at once.
Nick
Its not just economics. Its the same reason I'm keeping plans to head for Kansas where numbers are way down too. You don't know unless you go. You may find that honey hole, that secret plum thicket that holds birds when its windy. That spot that has huns someplace they're not supposed to be. A covert that sharpies run to. A dog that has his "bird" switch come on. A farmer that you form a friendship with and get some coveted permission.
I didn't add any new land in Kansas last year but I got three new farms here in Colorado. If I hadn't headed out I would have never got the permission. There is nothing new on your own coach.
I didn't add any new land in Kansas last year but I got three new farms here in Colorado. If I hadn't headed out I would have never got the permission. There is nothing new on your own coach.
Ive hunted sd for 22 yrs now. Some good years some not so good. For me 50 plus bird bag count is good year. I do buy a few licenses, make a few trips 864 miles one way. I like to hunt. We have some great land we own and I mix it up with some public and ditch hunting. I love ditch hunting just me and my lewellin and my 28. He has it dialed. Ill be afield for the opener with our group. They all go home monday and then the real hunt starts. Ill go back in december just cause once aint enough. Last year dec was sad. Everywhere we went the farmers had finished harvest early and where pulling fences, filling in potholes, removing all that good habitat. I watched this happen in Ill, Mi, Ne, Iw, it saddens me to watch sd go the same way. I am sure there will be some birds. My sources confirm that very late hatch as well. I normaly drift into Ne too. Ive shot quail, grouse and roosters in ne same day. My contacts down there tell me to stay home. Ill keep coming and hunting long as I can. At least 2 trips a years for 42 years now. I could stay home and hunt ruffs but it aint the same. Good luck hunters. A bad day in sd is better than a good day anywhere else.
this year might, unfortunately, be different...I will short stop my trip and fool around in Kansas and hit a preserve for an 8 or 10 bird day...that will satisfy the dogs, before we go looking for a very few wilds..
beach004
Member
"Has the Governor called?"
Just an info bulletin; good to know we are appreciated! --Beach004
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will host a Pheasant Habitat Summit to discuss the future of pheasant habitat and hunting in South Dakota. The summit is scheduled for Dec. 6, at the Crossroads Convention Center in Huron.
"Pheasant hunting is extremely important to the culture and economic well-being of South Dakota," he said. "South Dakota's pheasant hunting experience is second to none and draws hunters from around the world. We want to do what we can now to ensure these opportunities for future generations."
The Governor's Pheasant Habitat Summit will provide a forum for landowners, sportsmen, members of the tourism industry and other interested individuals to learn about the current state of pheasant habitat in South Dakota. The summit will include panel discussions and public input as a means to explore ways to maintain and enhance pheasant habitat.
The summit is open to the public and pre-registration is required. Individuals may register online. Information and registration is also available by calling the Game, Fish and Parks Department at 605-773-3387.
Just an info bulletin; good to know we are appreciated! --Beach004
Gov. Dennis Daugaard will host a Pheasant Habitat Summit to discuss the future of pheasant habitat and hunting in South Dakota. The summit is scheduled for Dec. 6, at the Crossroads Convention Center in Huron.
"Pheasant hunting is extremely important to the culture and economic well-being of South Dakota," he said. "South Dakota's pheasant hunting experience is second to none and draws hunters from around the world. We want to do what we can now to ensure these opportunities for future generations."
The Governor's Pheasant Habitat Summit will provide a forum for landowners, sportsmen, members of the tourism industry and other interested individuals to learn about the current state of pheasant habitat in South Dakota. The summit will include panel discussions and public input as a means to explore ways to maintain and enhance pheasant habitat.
The summit is open to the public and pre-registration is required. Individuals may register online. Information and registration is also available by calling the Game, Fish and Parks Department at 605-773-3387.
I love all these summits and meetings to discuss what we already know....CRP is out, row crops are in...its pure economics from the landowner....only equal amounts of CRP or grass will bring it back....money, money, money.....
beach004
Member
Well, FWIW, I heard on NPR this morning a long story about corn harvesting in Nebraska; the farmers being interviewed said the price of corn had fallen this year. If that were to continue, some of the SD land now economically feasible for corn would cease to be, and might then revert to CRP. It was the ill-considered decision to use corn for ethanol that brought this about; maybe someday we'll stop that and pheasants will again thrive. Yeah; right...
Riverroosterranch
New member
Statewide, the 2013 brood count survey indicated an index of 1.52 pheasants per mile, down from 4.19 pheasants per mile last year. And with poor route conditions and many late pheasant hatch reports coming from South Dakota, there is a chance that many hens were still on nest during the survey, meaning the drop may not actually be as precipitous. Runia notes that lower brood counts in 1992 and 1997 still resulted in almost one million pheasants harvested in South Dakota each year. Since 1992, the state has added 350,000 acres of public access within the main pheasant range, expanding hunting opportunities.
UGUIDE
Active member
Good point. Thinking they would have to run these routes from July thru sept to get an accurate count.
Cookie cutter response by the state. Pheasant hunting opportunities are not even close to what they were in 97 in the vast majority of SD!!. Living in Pierre it seems like very little hype compared to years past. With the rain for last two weeks very little fall crops have been taken out in central SD. Also your going to have a really hard time getting anywhere that is off a gravel road. It soft and muddy everywhere. You can't sugar coat it, birds # are way, way down.
Roosterslayer
Member
Just postponed our opening week trip. Talk about tough re-scheduling two days before departure. Glad we got it done though with the great majority of the crops still standing along with the wet fields and roads. I believe jpallen is right on target as I got the same information from a couple farmers in that area. Hope they hit a drying period and can get the equipment rolling.