South Dakota

[ThePascoKid]

Found out today that I drew my deer tag for SD, pretty stoked, come on November.

[haugenna]

I hunt there as well.  Buffalo/ Harding county area.  Where do you go?

Congrats. 

We purchased a point this year.

[chevysquid]

I was born and raised in South Dakota.  Left when I joined the Navy.  I was from the west side in the Black Hills (Lead).  Got any questions I might be able to help you with?

[ThePascoKid]

I hunt Fall River county just south of the Black Hills, I've been there twice in the last 3 years, I love it there lots of game, I have a buddy that lives in Buffalo Gap so he helps us out alot with areas to hunt, I appreciate the offer though.  This time my dad, my best friend and his dad are going as well so we will take a day or two to see some of the sights like Mt. Rushmore, I went the first time out there and it is definitely not to me missed, very impressive.

[Slider]

Congrats!!!

[haugenna]

what kind of deer you been harvesting out there?

[ThePascoKid]

The first year I shot a 4x5 whitetail, nothing to write home about, but I was happy to fill my tag because I had a whitetail only permit and it really limited the areas we could hunt, the second year I went I had the any deer permit and it really opened things up, I shot a mule deer that was a 22" main frame 4 pt with double eyeguards, it's the buck in my avatar.  This year who know's, I guess they finally had a pretty wet spring and there are tons of animals around, my friend who lives in Buffalo Gap works for the city of Hot Springs, last year he shot upwards of 30 deer in town on a fish and game depredation permit.  Their pay sucks but I was definitely a little jealous of him those couple of weeks.

[haugenna]

are you hunting private land or walk in land?

Nice buck.

We shot average bucks and a couple good eatin does.

[ThePascoKid]

I hunt GPA's, walkin areas, and BLM, all areas that anybody can hunt, I don't have access to any private property, hopefully this year that will change.

[haugenna]

I think the pvt property is the key in those areas since there are so many roads.

[ThePascoKid]

I definitely wouldn't turn down access to private land, I have seen some killer bucks on private land there, but I don't think it's necessary for a quality hunt because of the low hunter numbers and high deer population, the time of year doesn't hurt either.  Fall River county has more public access property than I can cover in a 7 day trip.  I was thinking of buying a Turkey tag if I tag out early on deer they have a fall hunt the same time as deer and the turkeys are thick.  I've also found some big prairie dog towns on some of the BLM land that could be fun to.

[Bean Counter]

Bring a shotgun. I've heard its the best bird hunting in the country.

[ThePascoKid]

There's definitely pheasant where I hunt but I don't think it's near the numbers they have farther east, Fall river isn't known for it's upland bird like the east river counties

[chevysquid]

Boy, I used to tear up prairie dogs on my grandparent ranch east of Sturgis.  Would spend all summer doing that.  Go through bricks of 22 shells.  Just give out a whistle and they would stand right up for ya.  This town was so big that I could drive to another side after I spooked one side down into their holes.

[haugenna]

There's definitely pheasant where I hunt but I don't think it's near the numbers they have farther east, Fall river isn't now for it's upland bird like the east river counties

You gotta go more central to east SD.  The west river counties are pasture land and breaks.  A few pheasants here and there.  Not many though.