South Dakota Is Losing Its Hometown Pheasant Hunters. Meanwhile, the Nonresident Business Is Booming

[warmer]

Don't forget the leader was replaced with a yes man.

Forgot that one

 

[Pucky Freak]

the writing on the wall is that NR hunting as we know it now is going away in either my lifetime or my kids.

 

[IDiot]

This morning after the archery deer attempt was over, I drove a road around an area I had permission to rifle hunt deer on to see what was moving. Did not see any deer but on an adjoining land owners field, the pheasants were starting to fly back into cover. I must have seen 35-40 roosters leave the field. No hens. Pretty obvious they were all pen raised. I believe the GFP requires preserves to release more roosters than they take. Maybe they should have to release 5 hens for every ten roosters. Could that help keep numbers up ? or just feed more coyotes?

Feed coyotes. Pen raised birds don't survive worth a darn. It'd be a waste.

 

[marshman]

When I grew up in SoDak I remember pheasant hunting being pretty easy and not needing land. My dad would drive and drink beer, we would go up and down the endless supply of grave roads. If we saw one I would get out and into the ditch to shoot. Or my old man would drop me off and I would walk the mile ditch back to the truck.

I just returned from 5 days of SD pheasant hunting. We had access to one farm, the rest was hunting on public land. There were lot's of good hunting opportunities' on both. We spent our NR money on fuel, food and lodging in the small town we hunted from, (population about 250). From what I experienced we were appreciated for that.
We do not belong to any clubs or any of that just want to wild hunt birds were they live, as they do not exist where I live.
This is the 3rd time I have ventured to SD and hope to go again.
Just a simple bird hunters 2 cents.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

I haven't followed this thread to know where the convo is at, but the amount of people pheasant hunting in SD was kind of crazy when I drove thru it on their opening day. Sprinter vans full of dudes driving them from lodges to fields.

If they're using vans they're not doing it right! Old school busses is how you know they can pack the hunters in!

 

[30338]

I just returned from 5 days of SD pheasant hunting. We had access to one farm, the rest was hunting on public land. There were lot's of good hunting opportunities' on both. We spent our NR money on fuel, food and lodging in the small town we hunted from, (population about 250). From what I experienced we were appreciated for that.
We do not belong to any clubs or any of that just want to wild hunt birds were they live, as they do not exist where I live.
This is the 3rd time I have ventured to SD and hope to go again.
Just a simple bird hunters 2 cents.

I've been doing this with my bird dog for the last 5 years or so. I live in Colorado so the talk of non-residents ruining pheasant hunting in SD kind of makes me laugh. Half the country comes here to hunt elk and deer.

 

[grizzly63]

I've been doing this with my bird dog for the last 5 years or so. I live in Colorado so the talk of non-residents ruining pheasant hunting in SD kind of makes me laugh. Half the country comes here to hunt elk and deer.

And Colorado folks are fed up with it as well. The main difference is the amount of public land in Co vs SD. I understand their plight. There comes a time when enough is enough.

 

[grizzly63]

I saw a guy in Runings yesterday dressed in orange with Co plates. Obviously a bird hunter. I hope he had a good time.

 

[30338]

And Colorado folks are fed up with it as well. The main difference is the amount of public land in Co vs SD. I understand their plight. There comes a time when enough is enough.

I didn't say I was fed up with it. They pay a lot of the wildlife bills here in this state and the revenue for small businesses here is greatly appreciated. Seems like SD could limit nonresident upland hunters to the 2 5 day sessions only if it really gets bad there. We got rid of OTC tags for nonresidents and I think that was a great idea. Hopefully you have a great season there. I may only be in SD for 5 days total this year and hoping to do well. Me and my dog are looking forward to it.