North Dakota Pheasant suggestions welcome

[Guest]

Ive never hunted ND but a friend of mine owns land there and he said they had a perfict spring and the pheasant pop is huge compared to last year there are birds everywhere.
I will be going for my first time this year I cant wait.

[This message has been edited by B Sander (edited 08-16-2002).]

[Bird Dog]

I want to plan a Trip or two to North Dakota for Pheasant hunting.Has anyone ever tryed hunting the National Grasslands or any other public land with any degree of success also if you have any suggestions for lodging ect.

Thanks much for your input

[Guest]

I saw pheasants all over the place in early July -- and, we saw them on both sides of the Missouri, even out in the Badlands near Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

I do my hunting in McLean County, which includes towns of Garrison, Washburn, Hazen, Riverdale, Underwood.

It is getting harder to get access in ND, but it is a great place to hunt. SD has gotten much more publicity, but ND is super.

A surprise was seeing so many pronghorn antelope in the Underwood-Riverdale-Garrison area. They seem to be spreading farther east than previously.

[Bird Dog]

Hey thanks for the replies. I was originally thinking about heading out to the southwestern portion of the state, but I have heard that they are suffering from a drought and lack of cover food etc. concerns me.I like to have some water availible for the dogs to cool off in.Have you guys heard anything of this.I will be going somewhere in N.D. regardless
I can't wait to get out hunting with the dogs
but I sure hope it cools off by then.

Thanks Bird Dog

[Guest]

Take out your North Dakota map and look at the area south of Sakakawea from about Washburn west to Halliday. There's a great deal of good pheasant habitat there and fairly easy access to property.

Check Hazen, Buelah, Underwood and Washburn for places to stay.

[Bird Dog]

Thanks alot for your input. I will be trying to put something together within the next couple days or so. I have been researching the area,and it sounds interesting.I even went as far as contacting an outdoor writer that has hunted N.D. and wrote several books on the subject.A person can only get so many days away from work for hunting and fishing so you like to try to make the trips as productive as possible. I just had a couple more questions for you. Are there alot draws or ravines and is it somewhat hilly? also do you encounter hungarian partridge in the area.I may have some more questions down the road a bit.Hopefully I am not being a pain for asking so many questions I guess that I am just getting pumped up for hunting

Thanks Bird Dog

[Guest]

I would recommend staying more to the central part of the state. If you hunt near the lake(Sakakawea) there is an unlimited supply of Game and Fish land to hunt. As for partridge & grouse, the populations are not bad. Chances on grouse being better than partridge. Lots of CRP and tree rows to walk in that area.

[Guest]

I will be heading out to ND this year also. I am really looking forward to it.

How are the residents feeling about non-resident upland hunters? I know there is a bit of a controvery, but I don't know how big it is. Are the residents up for a few of us non-residents knocking on doors and asking for permission to hunt?

Thanks for your input. Dan

[Bird Dog]

Thanks for your input I am planning on taking
one trip out to the area around lake Sakakawea possibly two.We have got reservations to stay in Beulah starting the 17th or 18th of October.Beulah looked like a good place to headquarter out of.hopefully they have a good mom and pop type of cafe.
As a response to the above reply I have found good luck on past hunting trips to different areas of the State. Once I have found one landowner that granted me permission to hunt it has lead to other opportunities.The later in the season the better.There hunting for themselves or relatives is pretty much done and they are more apt to grant you permission.Respect for the land,cattle and crops a case of beer or a pair of gloves for the landowner can go a long way!If you want to return to hunt Later

Bird Dog