South Dakota Trip

[buckwildbirddogs]

we are starting to plan a hunting trip to South Dakota around thanksgiving. We were wanting opinions on where is a good spot to go?? We are coming from North East Kansas so would prefer not to travel to the northern part of the state if possible. Also what vaccinations, health certs the dogs would need to cross state lines.

Any info is helpful...

[nikegundog]

Dog Requirements,

Dogs being brought into South Dakota are required to have a health certificate from their local vet indicating that all shots are up-to-date and they are disease free animals. Dog owners with questions or concerning requirements mall call Animal Industry Board at 605 773-3321

Quite honestly I've hunted there for 12 years and have never been asked, nor has anyone that I've hunted with been asked to see any certificate, I have however taken with vaccination certificates. This distribution map might help you decide a general area, as a rule of thumb anything East river will have decent amount of birds. http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/pheasants.aspx

[windswept]

Hate to be the party pooper but I think any trip to South Dakota to hunt pheasants should be approached with much lower than normal expectations. Statewide the pheasant count is down 46% due to two hard winters and two very wet springs in a row. Game Fish and Parks along with the Dept. of Toursim is doing the best job they can to put a bunch of lipstick on this pig but the reality is the bird count is way down. I'm not suggesting you cancel your trip but don't expect the kind of numbers guys are always raving about on internet forums.
Here's a link to the survey: http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/ph ... tlook.aspx

[nhachman]

It may depend on what part of the state you're in as to how many birds you'll get into. I'd say a bad day in SD is just as good as a normal day in Kansas though. There are lots of people talking about the forecasts, which I'm not going to argue since I have no "data" of my own. However, I do know that 4 weeks ago my uncle was up near where we hunt for a funeral and saw 150+ birds moving from one corn field to the CRP at dusk. As for the health certificate, I was told you have to have one. I don't see anything about it in the hunting regulations but it is here http://aib.sd.gov/stateimportrequirements.shtm#dogscats I also have never been asked to produce a health certificate, but we also have never been stopped by the law or a GFP agent.

[nikegundog]

The paragraph I posted was out of the hunting regulations.

[AG74]

I'm pretty certain South Dakota does A LOT of releasing of pheasants each year, which helps ensure there will be birds around during the season. I'm not saying it will be a banner year or anything, but SoDak has it figured out: pheasant hunters are one of their main sources of tourism and income. They will do their best to ensure hunters do well. Its not just their great habitat that makes SoDak so great - they also release a TON of birds each year. And like someone else said, a bad year in SoDak will still be better than a good year in most states. Good luck,

[CowboyBirdDogs]

If you're going for pheasant why not save some miles and an out of state license and hunt in your own backyard? With that said, I'm going to Kansas this year so have fun in SoDak!

[windswept]

I'm pretty certain South Dakota does A LOT of releasing of pheasants each year, which helps ensure there will be birds around during the season. I'm not saying it will be a banner year or anything, but SoDak has it figured out: pheasant hunters are one of their main sources of tourism and income. They will do their best to ensure hunters do well. Its not just their great habitat that makes SoDak so great - they also release a TON of birds each year. And like someone else said, a bad year in SoDak will still be better than a good year in most states. Good luck,

I don't think South Dakota releases any pheasants at all. The only pen raised birds you will find are at the hunting lodges. Farmers that charge guys to hunt also buy and release birds the morning of the hunt but as far as the state releasing any...not that I am aware of and I've lived here all my life.
I am still planning on hunting as much as I can but there will be areas where the hunting was decent in the past that will be worthless this year. It'll take more work and time to figure things out but if it were easy it wouldn't be hunting!

[ckirsch]

The state doesn't release any birds, and to my knowledge never has. As Windswept points out, the preserves release birds, but any you find on public ground are wild. Our counts are off significantly after two rough winters and the loss of a lot of CRP, but there will still be plenty of wild birds to pursue.

[nhachman]

If you're going for pheasant why not save some miles and an out of state license and hunt in your own backyard? With that said, I'm going to Kansas this year so have fun in SoDak!

Electric,

I'm living the dream and hunting both this year! 3 full hunting days in SD and 2 in KS.

[buckwildbirddogs]

We hunt all over KS and NE every year. This was just an idea for some new scenery and fun. We have hunted in KS and only seen one hen before so our expectations are not high in any state. We have never been asked to produce any certs but the first time I don't have it done will be the day they want to see it. I just wasn't sure if there were any extra vacc that would be recommended other than the annual distemper/parvo/etc, rabies and bordettella. Our vet is looking into it too.

So would those of you that have been there recommend a preserve or the walk-in hunting?? Also we will have 4 young pups and 2 seasoned vets with us on this trip so a few birds for the young ones would be nice. We don't get to go on a big hunt like this very often so would like to make the most of it.

[buckwildbirddogs]

I'm living the dream and hunting both this year! 3 full hunting days in SD and 2 in KS.

I guess we are too.. KS daily, NE every other weekend, SD thanksgiving..
Unfortunately we are very north east KS (Centralia area) and our bird population is not great. But we do manage to go out to Hays a couple times.

[AG74]

The state doesn't release any birds, and to my knowledge never has. As Windswept points out, the preserves release birds, but any you find on public ground are wild. Our counts are off significantly after two rough winters and the loss of a lot of CRP, but there will still be plenty of wild birds to pursue.

I stand corrected. Thanks. I have a bud who is familiar with the area who told me the SD Chamber of Commerce has a release plan, and that "everyone else" in the state released birds also. Seemed plausible to me, as that is a big deal out there ( hunting, that is).

[ezzy333]

They used to release birds but I don't know if they do now or if it is just the preserves and people that make money by charging for hunting their land.

Someone said last year that the state itself isn't doing it anymore.

Ezzy

[CowboyBirdDogs]

If you're going for pheasant why not save some miles and an out of state license and hunt in your own backyard? With that said, I'm going to Kansas this year so have fun in SoDak!

Electric,

I'm living the dream and hunting both this year! 3 full hunting days in SD and 2 in KS.

Must be nice! Post lots of pics for us birdless Texans to drool over!

[buckwildbirddogs]

So... where would you recommend to go in South Dakota for walk in hunting??

Trip is scheduled for DEC 2-5. Just need to figure out the best location.

[skeetermc]

I went opening weekend in the Chamberlan area and hunted with the folks at Snake Den Lodge. They had all the wild birds you could shoot at. Their lodge is in Preshan (not sure of the spelling) the game warden said the local bird count might be down 10% but frankly i couldnt tell. We shot our limits every day in two hours. I here the bird count is down the further north you go.

[birddog1968]

Its a state requirement that preserves/hunting operations release a minimum of 600 roosters a year......

And at no time can harvest records exceed birds released....