Youth season

I

Iowaringneck

New member
I want to bring my 2 sons to SD for youth season and I would really appreciate some help. The place I go around Mitchell doesn't offer youth season and that's the only place I've ever hunted in SD. I don't really need a guide and I have a young dog so all I really need is access to land. Of course I'm willing to pay so if anyone can help with an outfitter or a farmer I'd really appreciate it. I'm from Iowa so I'd like to stay in the eastern part of the state if possible. Thanks for your help.
 
Sir--hunt public land. There are very, very few hunters out that weekend. The birds have had no hunting pressure, and there are lots of young birds at that time. No need to hunt private land that time of year.
 
pheasantaddict said:
Take them out for the Iowa youth season to about any public area and they should be done within an hour.
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PheasantAddict, I find this hard to swallow. I even would find it hard to tell someone that they could take a group of youth to any public hunting area in SD and get done in an hour? How do you figure?

I just figure that high noon in a sea of grass on a warm day is probably not where the brids are going to be 2 weeks before season opens.
 
I have found that many of the public areas in SD have food plots within them, so if the birds aren't in the grass they are probably in the foodplots...they are not all set up this way, but it seems that most of the decent sized areas are. I was pleasantly surprised over the last year or two by this. Yes, the temps can be oppressive at noon, but not always....worst case, you hunt awhile and rest awhile...worst case, you focus on the evening.
 
benelli-banger said:
I have found that many of the public areas in SD have food plots within them, so if the birds aren't in the grass they are probably in the foodplots...they are not all set up this way, but it seems that most of the decent sized areas are.
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Well that's a different story then. I have always thought they should put food plots in the public grass areas to make them most ideal for public. I can still remember one public spot in Iowa I used to hit all the time. It had some standing corn in it and I swear there was at least 1 rooster in that thing every time I hunted it.
 
The place I go around Mitchell doesn't offer youth season and that's the only place I've ever hunted in SD.
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Iowaringneck,

I don't understand what you aer saying here. Is it that the landowner won't allow you to bring your sons and hunt during the youth season? Because the Youth Season is open statewide on public and private land.

If you can't get on private land I would suggest search out some public areas. I don't think there are a lot of youth out on public land during this early season and certainly there will have been no hunting pressure.

Good luck.
 
UGUIDE said:
Well that's a different story then. I have always thought they should put food plots in the public grass areas to make them most ideal for public. I can still remember one public spot in Iowa I used to hit all the time. It had some standing corn in it and I swear there was at least 1 rooster in that thing every time I hunted it.
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GFP contracts with local farmers to handle the foodplots...I know a few who do them in my area. Last year we found an amazing spot with foodplots all over!!!! It was CRAZY, even later in the regular season.
 
My ususal spot is owned by a farmer who hosts hunters. He doesn't want us coming for youth season. I'm sure he's afraid we will disturb the birds for the opener. I understand this. It seems clear that public land is going to be my best bet for youth season. I'll scour the atlas for places. If anyone has any recommendations for public land in the eastern half of SD I would appreciate it. Thanks to all for your help.
 
Uguide, In Iowa you can start hunting at 8 so the birds are on the roost and have never been shot at yet. You are only allowed 1 rooster. I usually only take one kid. One kid I took three years in a row and he was done in 5-15 min. Plenty of birds and no competition.
 
Iowaringneck said:
My ususal spot is owned by a farmer who hosts hunters. He doesn't want us coming for youth season. I'm sure he's afraid we will disturb the birds for the opener. I understand this. It seems clear that public land is going to be my best bet for youth season. I'll scour the atlas for places. If anyone has any recommendations for public land in the eastern half of SD I would appreciate it. Thanks to all for your help.
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honestly, you'll be good anywhere....just wait til the brood count is out later this month to make sure there aren't some crazy changes from last year in the general area you want to go....shouldn't be, the winter was mild and things have been decent so far this spring and summer.
 
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