Aberdeen area

[baitcaster]

Looking at heading to the Aberdeen area this weekend. More like the Frederick/Leola area. Any reports from anyonone that has been north to northwest of Aberdeen. I'm sure bird numbers are down, just nice to hear from someone that has been in the area. thanks.

[rundrave]

lots of reports from a another guy Muleshack in the SD section from his trip there this last week.

I wouldn't say a huge shortage on birds I didn't have any trouble finding them I was about 1.5 hours SW of Aberdeen though. good luck

[JConrad]

Just back from west of Aberdeen. My guess is bird counts are down 60 - 70 percent. Most low areas on Public land underwater. Big lost of nesting habitat for several years to come. Also most roadside ditches have been cut/hayed which makes no sense.

We had to really work for the birds that we did get. I did have some private land to hunt the first two days and did well there. Public land was not very good.

SoDak needs to wake up on the habitat issue going forward....

I normally go back in December but will not this year. It's not worth the time and expense given the low bird numbers.

[brittman]

Also most roadside ditches have been cut/hayed which makes no sense.

Road ditches are typically mowed in the fall. There will be plenty of cover next spring and summer. Road ditches provide little cover once snow arrives.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Just back from west of Aberdeen. My guess is bird counts are down 60 - 70 percent. Most low areas on Public land underwater. Big lost of nesting habitat for several years to come. Also most roadside ditches have been cut/hayed which makes no sense. Try navigating these roads to do your cattle feeding, grain hauling, or mail delivery in the winter if the ditches aren't mowed. every time the wind blows they would fill right in. Also, many land owners mow their ditches so that the orange army isn't out every weekend walking the ditches and letting their dogs wander onto private property.

We had to really work for the birds that we did get. I did have some private land to hunt the first two days and did well there. Public land was not very good.

SoDak needs to wake up on the habitat issue going forward....Compared to what? What should us in SoDak be doing? CRP acres are capped and not getting re-enrolled, even if the land owner would like to re-up. Crop prices are high right now, so there is no incentive for operators to idle any acres. Let the farmers make money now, so when the markets go down, these small towns can survive.

Even with the "low" bird numbers, changing landscape from grass to row crops, and over hunted public land, SD is still providing 10 times better habitat and hunting opportunities than MN or IA. I guess we could always cap our non-resident small game licenses like we do our non-resident waterfowl licenses. Maybe us in SD should wake up and confront that issue going forward?

[reddog]

Hopefully Ill be a resident before that takes place..

[pureinsanity]

[

Even with the "low" bird numbers, changing landscape from grass to row crops, and over hunted public land, SD is still providing 10 times better habitat and hunting opportunities than MN or IA. I guess we could always cap our non-resident small game licenses like we do our non-resident waterfowl licenses. Maybe us in SD should wake up and confront that issue going forward?

I am glad you posted SD is doing fine! in fact they are doing great! The CRP needs to be changed in Washington and I hope it does! SD still has 100% better pheasant habitat then MN. I would hate to see the pheasant license becoming a lottery. I doubt it will ever happen as there is more hunters and revenue generated from non residents then residents. That is besides the point.

I still had a great year hunting in SD. I had to work for my birds but I was still done very early every day. The numbers are down, and its not because of farm fields. It is because of mother nature and predators.

To the person that said low areas that were flooded have lost nesting cover for years.. Why years??? Areas that are flooded, once the water recedes Ive seen new growth in a matter of days.

Mowing the ditches doesn't effect nesting, in spring they will grow back and help bring back populations depending the weather cooperates.

Nesting season starts around mid April – mid July. That is plenty of time to have ditches grow back. Also, Pheasants live out their lives within a home range of approximately one square mile, requiring all habitat components - nesting cover, brood habitat, winter cover and food - to be in close proximity.

Of that one mile, 30-60 acres (about 5-10%) of the square mile should be nesting cover. That may sound like a lot but every bit of undisturbed grass, roadsides, waterways, center pivot corners, fencelines all offer pheasant nesting opportunities.

SD has MORE nesting cover then it needs. It needs winter cover and more of it.