Pheasant recommendations N/S Dakota

[Carl]

Hi HW Friends,

My son graduated college 2 years ago and my goal is it to go on one big hunt a year.  Last year, we went to eastern Alberta duck/goose hunting. I asked my son (and my brand new son-in-law), if they wanted to go to Canada duck/goose hunting again this year or try pheasant hunting in North or South Dakota.

They voted pheasant. I have absolutely no idea where to go! I’ve heard of guys renting a house and hunting near it or sometimes it’s on land they can hunt.  This sounds like what we’re after.  It will be a DIY hunt, as a lodge/guide will be too expensive – especially after my daughter’s wedding!!

I have a dog and might have another hunter join to split some driving costs.

So, does anyone have experience in this area that could offer some help?  I’m looking for any recommendations I can get.

Side note, my son had this wooden plaque made from a picture for my birthday.  Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks everyone,
Carl

[Old Dog]

I "rent" a basement for $20 a night in Miller, SD, and hunt the public ground within about a hundred miles.  I've had really good days and some bad days.  Depends on the year.  Contact SD Game Fish & Parks, and they will send you a pheasant hunting packet full of all kinds of good info.  I have also found landowners willing to let me on their ground for a reasonable fee.  In the past $100 a gun has worked. 

We can talk about it some more as we train Brody for the trip.   

[Carl]

Thanks, Old Dog

[Samloffler]

I'm interested in any info as well. I just started researching for a combo duck/upland hunt for probably 2020.

I've been looking around the potholes in SD, figure hunt ducks early then pheasants after. Can't hunt pheasants until 10am right?

Is public access pretty good?

[Old Dog]

Upland hunting changes from a noon opener to 10 AM around Nov. first.  There is over a million acres of public access, and SD Game Fish and Parks prints an atlas each year showing where all of it is.  Best of all it's free!   

[huntingfool7]

Pheasant numbers have taken a beating the last few years in North Dakota.  Winters have been brutal and springs have been wet and cold.  It's a bad mix.  It's too soon to see this years reports but this last winter was bitter cold.  I'd look to South Dakota for your trip.

[Branden]

Agreed with the poster above. ND numbers are way down. In fields I used to see a couple hundred birds I see 10-15. I think if you put the miles on you can have some action. But for an out of stater I would head to SD. If for some reason you do head to ND let me know and I can help.

[DavidL]

Cannonball in Regent, ND.  Outstanding wild bird hunting.  They hunt parties of all sizes by themselves.  Check it out.

[follow maggie]

North Dakota also had a really wet spring, which isn’t good for the hatch.  I’ll be headed there, anyway, come October. Hopefully the duck hunting will be good while I’m there.

[huntingfool7]

Normally ND does a video interview about pheasant numbers and outlook.  This year is the first time I've really had to look around for something on it.  Only thing I've found is a small article-  https://gf.nd.gov/news/3161

Claiming numbers are up 6% from last year but leaving out the historical perspective seems intentionally misleading.  That is not how they've done their press releases the past 15 years or so.

[jetjockey]

Heres another option.  Only 200 miles more and you can be in Kansas.   Better weather, 4 pheasant bag limit, MASSIVE amounts of public land, and you can hunt at sun up.  I can be in the heart of pheasant triangle in 8hrs, yet I don’t hunt SD.  I would wait for the pheasant outlooks to get published, and then make a decision.  Plus, once you hit KS, you can be into bob white and blue quail territory, just as easily as pheasant territory, and often have all 3.

[Carl]

Heres another option.  Only 200 miles more and you can be in Kansas.   Better weather, 4 pheasant bag limit, MASSIVE amounts of public land, and you can hunt at sun up.  I can be in the heart of pheasant triangle in 8hrs, yet I don’t hunt SD.  I would wait for the pheasant outlooks to get published, and then make a decision.  Plus, once you hit KS, you can be into bob white and blue quail territory, just as easily as pheasant territory, and often have all 3.

Thanks, JetJockey.       I'm still trying to get the boys together for the trip.

Carl

[jbeaumont21]

My Dad has used Dakota Prairie Guide Service out of Chamberlain, SD several times. Jim is the owner and a super great guy, does a fantastic job.  He can set you up with a cast and blast trip for pheasants and walleyes. Doesn't get any better than that!

http://www.dakotalands.com/sd/ce/DakotaPrairieGuide/index.php