Aberdeen, SD

[FishHawk11]

My dad and I are looking to head over towards Aberdeen on Saturday for some pheasant hunting. Where can I get some info on public spots and some maps? Anyone have luck over this way?

[brittman]

Reports out of SoDak are pheasants are down despite claims of most areas being higher. Much of the CRP has been mowed as part of the drought relief effort including SD Walk In land.

Many hunters report poor hunts, a few excellent and some in-between. Those having best luck are paying to hunt.

I would never tell you not to go, but it maybe wise to wait until SD get a few inches (not feet) of snow which should alter the pheasant hunting from mid-season to late season.

Any one claiming really good hunts on a post - try get them to fill you in on how, when, where, and how much ?

[leechlake]

I've hunted about 15 miles south of Aberdeen 4 times this year. While it was good most days, there were days of pretty poor for So Dakota standards and twice we paid an outfitter for guided hunts. Two times were private land with the farmer hunting with us that knew the land.

I thought this year was really going to be good, especially compared to last year since the winter was a lay up.

I too, would not suggest that you not go because...it's South Dakota. But you may want to lower your expectations. There may not be birds everywhere.

[DrJ]

I hunted walk-ins and ditches earlier this year and had very poor luck. Always was very good in other years. Don't waste your money or spend some more to pay for birds. Just an honest opinion. DrJ

[creepworm]

Here is a link to an interactive map of all SD public land.

http://gfp.sd.gov/images/WebMaps/Viewer/WILMA/

[MuleShack]

I was out there for 8 days spread over 3 different weeks in November.

The first week was definitely the best for birds in the bag but no where near full limits.

Last year was my first year out there and it was suppose to be a down year. From what I have seen, last year was better than what I found this year. Last year I only had 1 GSP, this year I had 2.

Lots of driving, to find the area cut down or plowed under when you get there. We did see a bunch of hens and a fair share of roosters, but those birds are so jumpy they were getting up way out front. Mainly because of less public areas and more hunters on less land is my guess.

The public that I have hunted in MN has produced as many birds per plot as we found in SD this year.

[rundrave]

I personally would suggest going further west or even South of Aberdeen. I dont know why the birds are not up there this year but everyone I hear goes hunting up that way. Get away from the crowds and the higher pressured areas and you will have luck.

I have done lots of hunting this year around the Huron area and put on lots of miles scouting public areaa. I have ONLY hunted public and never paid a dollar to hunt private land. Sure there were days I was done by 11am, but there were days I had to work all day till sundown to get my birds. Then there were days I made mistakes or shot poorly and drastically reduced my chance at a bird but that's why they call it hunting. Its a huge game of chess and sometime those wild rooster get the upper hand.

I will be out again 3 days this weekend walking public rain snow or shine.

[MuleShack]

I was over in the Selby area for two days. One field we hunted last year we kicked up 20 birds, one of them was a rooster. this year we didn't see one bird in the same field.

Our best hunting was south of Aberdeen and over towards Watertown.

Pheasants Forever just put out a blog about the SD hunting situation Pheasants Forever Blog Here

[FishHawk11]

Thanks for the input guys. My dad talked to an attorney that he does business with and had the same report. We have our hunting shack in ortonville, mn and haven't done very well this year so we thought about heading across the border. We were already over there this year for opener so we already have the license and I figured it wasn't a very far drive from ortonville. I think we are going to wait and see what the weather does on Thursday/Friday.

[Bryce]

Not what I was hoping to read. Was looking forward to Circus hot wings after missing them last season. Have to make a Huron stop though. Our dogs always get a picture with the huge pheasant on their first and last sodak hunts. First time our 2 1/2 year old has not been training/trialing in Texas. Bet she will love the egg burger at Scoreboard as much as I do. Maybe a side of chislic too.

[Jarrod32]

Southwest of Aberdeen has been the better area this season. Redfield/Faulkton area. Decent bird numbers around the Roscoe/Leola/Bowdle area as well. The birds are out there...you just have to work to get them. And, as always, they are very skittish this far into the season.

[Quackaddict9]

Not Aberdeen, SD but heading about 1 hr North on the ND side next week for 3 days on Private land. Sounds like a down year out there as well but we have shot plenty of birds in the past. Looking forward to it...and good luck if you go out! The further West you go, the better it is usually I guess?

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Every bird I've shot this year out here has been within 200 yards of water.

[rundrave]

Have to make a Huron stop though. Our dogs always get a picture with the huge pheasant on their first and last sodak hunts.

they just re-painted and touched up that rooster in the last year. My wife laughs at me every time I request to get a picture with it and the dogs lol

[Bryce]

More birds than anticipated westish of Redfield but skitish as expected. Rocked out some Circus wings last night with big rooster our destination tonite.

[IceHawk]

Nice photo Bryce. Snow is deep here in central mn but me and my lab Zoe are still after them. Good looking choclates where are they out of?

[Bryce]

They are 3rd and 4th generation of our original lab.

[Bryce]

Roads are skating rinks. Ice crusted snow will shred up dogs quickly. Going to be tough hunting unless the area gets a big warm spell. Headed east. Seeing very few birds out in the fields. Hope they're just hunkered down and didn't get zapped by the ice. I was very surprised how well the birds have rebounded.

[Bryce]

Found huntable conditions sw-ish of Watertown. Must be getting old. Too beat up to stay and hunt known birds. Last limit before the end of the world next Friday.

[MuleShack]

Video...or it didn't happen

Just kidding, nice limit.

[Bryce]

Excuse if this takes a couple attempts. Flush and retrieve at the beginning. The rest is just me and dogs and cattails. Have not figured out editing. They sit tight but fly really really fast

[MuleShack]

Nice. I see they were sitting pretty tight.

This wasn't from SD, but my highlight from the weekend in MN