| The pheasant season opened at noon on a Saturday | | | | farmland produces. More will simply proclaim that the |
| in South Dakota. I spent the morning in a rural farm | | | | sparsely populated state of South Dakota allows for |
| home with my in-laws. Although most see this time | | | | pheasants to reproduce in large numbers. I'd say that |
| spent as survival in purest form, I've always found it | | | | it's a combination of all of the above. |
| to be one of the better ways to begin the season. | | | | In South Dakota, you'll find well managed public lands |
| Late in the morning, all of the family had arrived and | | | | and carefully developed private habitat. One will |
| lunch was served. We got a late start (1:00pm) but | | | | discover areas so dense with native growth that you |
| none of us worried, we knew where we were | | | | will need multiple dogs adjacent to areas where you |
| hunting, South Dakota. | | | | could actually get by without a bird dog. Hunters will |
| This particular day, ten of us had bagged | | | | no doubt find areas where they have to choose |
| twenty-eight birds by about 3:30pm. There is no | | | | which of the many males to take a shot at. They will |
| doubt we could have continued on to drop the final | | | | come to appreciate the hospitality of some of the |
| two birds to limit out, but we felt it a better idea to | | | | most accommodating hunting lodges in the country. |
| get back to the house, clean the birds, and enjoy a | | | | So practice your shot before you show up, because |
| cocktail. While this hunt ranked high in my all-time | | | | with this many birds, there may be a shortage of |
| outings, similar stories are common from those who | | | | shotgun shells. |
| frequent South Dakota hunting lands in the fall. | | | | Remember: Communicate with your group, know |
| What is at about this area that makes it such | | | | where all members of your party are at all times, |
| fantastic habitat for the Ringneck Pheasant? Some | | | | watch for your blockers, take careful shots, teach |
| say that it is the native grasses and brush cover. | | | | young hunters the safety fundamentals and enjoy a |
| Others will tell you it is the food supply, the grain this | | | | drink after the hunt has ended. |