Pheasant Hunting

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I would like to go to South Dakota this year Pheasant hunting for the first time. I was wondering if anyone could suggest some areas/places to go. I would be interested in hunting both public and private land but I don't want to pay a lot to get on private land. I have dogs, so I don't need a guided hunt, I just need land to go on. Can anyone suggest some private places that are relatively inexpensive or point me where to go to find a lot of decent public land. I think I will want to hunt late October/early November.

Thanks in advance.

[fishhook8]

I was born and raised in SD left 35 years ago when I joined the Navy. I have been going back for about the last 15 years. I still know alot of people and was able to get on private land by asking, every year it get harder. A couple years ago I found a farmer who treated us right, has an old farm house and quit a bit of land to hunt. It great. There is quite a lot of public land in Hand County and a lot of non resident hunters also. The hunting should be very good this year. There is a web site PheasantCountry.com with a lot of info. Email me if you need futher info. [email protected]

[ifishsd]

Check out the GFP site. You can download maps or have the maps sent to you. The maps show all the public hunting areas.

In South Dakota we have WIA (Walk in Areas) hunting ground also. These are private lands the state pays the landowner to let people hunt free of charge. I have had some luck on the WIA's.

In a couple of weeks the GFP will have there pheasant brood count out on their web site. I would look at that before I would decide where to go. You need to go where the birds are to have a good hunt. Generally the Winner, SD area and Huron area has the most birds. But with the mild winter the Brookings and Watertown areas should be good again this year.
Check out the Gfp site:
http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/

[MapSD]

This URL may or may not interest you.
http://www.huronsd.com/visitor/hunting_fishing/ringneck_festival.html

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Mike Reilly
Mike's Maps