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2011 Spring Black Hills hunt

duckhuntr21

By duckhuntr21
in Turkey Hunting

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Cheetah Mentor

Cheetah

Posted
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Yea you can use rifle, it's nothing new. In the area we hunt the back roads are closed for the first month or so, but once they open for the last couple weeks all the rifle hunters drive through trying to shoot birds from their trucks. I don't recall the exact season dates from this past spring, but it's about the same as anywhere else. The hard part is that the black hills area can get freak snow storms and stuff right in the middle of the season.

Here's the SD GFP page for spring turkey.

http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/licenses/limited/app-blackhills-springturkey.aspx

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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Lots of western states allow rifles. Few use them. The thing is, so much of the area is wide open and being able to view turkeys from hundreds of yards away is pretty common. Don't believe it's any more dangerous than our use of decoys in areas with very limited visibility.

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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The Black Hills trip is a favorite trip for me. I usually go later in the season. Last trip out we were stuck in the cabin for a day and a half with 3 feet of snow on the ground and the wind howling.

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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Tenting on the opener is realy asking for trouble. IMO, the opener is pretty darn early anyhow. Birds are usually still in large flocks. Much easier hunting after they break up in early May and the weather will probably be much nicer.

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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Cabins are fairly cheap out there that time of year and much easier to warm up and dry out when you get dumped on. I like heading out the end of April to first part of May. Even then you can get dumped on and birds can be flocked up.

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elevatorguy Collaborator

elevatorguy

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I tented it the first year I went out there and we went in May. The next 2 years we pulled a tent trailer out there and the one year we barely got it out of the hills where we camped due to 14 inches of snow. Thats when we decided to get a cabin. Where we stay is cheap and he has charged us 50 a night for 7 years now. They are nothing fancy but the shower and beds do make it nice. And as for the hunting the other guys summed it up pretty well. Me personally, I have had success early and late. We have tried both. Just when we think we have it figured out WHAM! there the weather goes and screws things up or the birds just do not cooperate.

Wow just a little talk has me fired up to go turkey hunting now the deer hunting is over for me. I can't wait now since I missed last year....

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gp13581 Contributor

gp13581

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Check out Silver City. There is a couple there that have several small cabins for rent. It's right in the heart of the hills halfway between Deadwood and Hill City on the north end of Pactola. My family has stayed there several times. Cabins are nice and Rita and Tally, the owners, are great people. Have fun!

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sticknstring Grand Master

sticknstring

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There's a curve. Our first year to Custer, we came home birdless and I consider myself a pretty experienced turkey hunter. The prairie units were similar to back home but our timing was off and the birds were still bunched up. Hunting in the was hills was really different. You don't have the visual aspect in locating birds. Just miles of ponderosas and hills. We saw some birds but never gave ourselves close oppportunities. This was an archery hunt. Had we been toting boomsticks, our coolers would've been a little heavier. Gorgeous place to be in the spring however. Saw lots of deer, whitetails & mulies both, speed goats, & a day of sightseeing. If you've never made the trip before, I recommend it.

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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A different style of hunting for sure. We hunted sight for 2 straight days and never saw or heard a bird. When we found out from the locals how much these birds travel in a day we got a lot more aggressive and covered a lot more ground. Success rocketed.

So I'd recommend covering ground, calling aggressively and using locator calls. Also don't get hung up on sign too much. Just because your seeing fresh tracks doesn't mean those birds are anywhere nearby. They cover 9-12 miles a day based on tracking studies out there. But if you find spot with concentrated sign stop back and develop a milk run of hunting spots. That's what has paid off for us.

Oh, Also get in good hiking shape. If you are able get around birds and cut them off on these steep ridges you have a higher likelihood of filling your tag.

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

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Good advice Borch. Merriams do cover a lot of ground. They are also very vocal and can be called from a long ways. Cover a lot of ground, call often, then call loud to get a response from birds a long ways off.

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elevatorguy Collaborator

elevatorguy

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Well it looks like the season opens on the 9th of April and we are gonna be headed out the 13th. I am getting excited already. I am gonna try and get one with the bow this year. I see they finally got a bag to carry a blind with a little easier so I am gonna pick one up and give it a whirl. Looking forward to the Hills!!

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elevatorguy Collaborator

elevatorguy

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Thanks Sticknstring I can't wait. We actually had to change it to the 27th of April due to my wife and I and daughter will be marching in the walk for babies for the March of Dimes. I missed last years trip due to our daughter being born 3 1/2 months early. This will be my 10 trip in 12 years out there. I love going out there cause it is so beautiful out there and it really is an affordable trip.

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    • smurfy
      Just Food and Drink

      By smurfy · Posted

      By The way that didn't work either!! Screw it I'll just use the cellular. 
    • Wanderer
      Just Food and Drink

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      Just Food and Drink

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      Chicken mine,  melded in Mccormick poultry seasoning for 24 hours.  Grill will get a break till the frigid temps go away!
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    • Wanderer
      Problems with Yetti

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