South Dakota Pheasant Hunts Question

[uplandhunter870]

my Dad is really wanting to go to S.D. this fall for a guided pheasant hunt.  he and i both have never hunted out of the state that we have lived in, many states for him only one for me.

has anyone here gone on a guided trip to S.D.? would really appreciate some input on ranches to look at and what the approximate cost was.  he mentioned something about possibly staying below 5k for the trip, including travel.

thanks in advance
Steve

[gwpsage]

I grew up and lived in South Dakota most of my life until I joined the Army. 
What are you looking for in the hunt?  Do you want to stay in a nice lodge with all the comforts.  Or is your main priority seeing more pheasants then you thought was imaginable and having a great hunt? 
There is lots of public land with great hunting opportunity. 
There is also lots of ranches.  Some charge by the day.  Like 300 a day per person for a group of hunters.  Or an all inclusive lodge for 1000 to 2000 a day.  River Hills Lodge in Platte would be the high end with excellent hunting.   Any lodge in Central to Eastern South Dakota will have lots of pheasants. 
If you don't mind staying in a hotel you can have guided hunts for 300 a day per person on private land near mitchell. 
I've had buddies that went to Little River in Stratford and they enjoyed it alot. 
It is definatley possible to stay under 5K for the whole trip. 

[boneaddict]

All I know is that the pheasant population is unimaginable if you are trying to compare it to here.   From what I saw I'd compare it to a flock of sparrows.  Its CRAZY

[Buckmark]

If i remember correctly (please correct if i am wrong) the limit per day is 3 pheasants(roosters) if your shooting wild birds. There is no shortage at all of birds and hunts can be over for the day pretty quick if it is only 2 of you out in the field, Make sure you have plans for the rest of your day..

[gasman]

Check with Olddog, he was there last year on a self guided hunt and had nothing but great things to day about it. I was planing on a guided hunt but it fell through so he did it on his own, all on public land.

[WDFW-SUX]

Ive been told that there is an Indian reservation in the middle of the state with a crap load of birds and they let you hunt them on the cheep..no clue if its true but somthing Id check into if I was going DIY

[uplandhunter870]

thanks for the input.  im not entirely sure what my dad has in mind, hes mainly in the brainstorming/is it doable financially stage.  i told him id put a thread on here to get some input.  me on the other i dont really have any accomodation preferences, lodges could be fun, hotels are fine with me.  he just said "what do you think about going to S.D. next fall to hunt pheasant?"  and like the hunting whore that im am i said "when we going!"

[WDFW-SUX]

http://gameandfish.standingrock.org/?id=23&page=2010%2F2011+Dates+and+Fees

Id be all over this If I was going DIY They even have a 5 rooster per day limit

[bobcat]

One thing to ask about if you're hunting on private property is if the birds are wild or planted. I've never hunted there, but have heard a lot of the private farms plant birds, so if you're wanting wild birds keep that in mind. I know I wouldn't go all the way to South Dakota to shoot planted birds. I could do that here.

[WDFW-SUX]

If they are planted birds you can shoot as many as you want if there wild its 3 roosters per day....Id be bored sick if I could only shoot 3 a day

[sneakysneaky]

You don't need a guide. There are so many pheasants in S.D. all you have to do is drive to Mitchell, find some brush and make sure you don't miss.  Schedule a week if you can.  Just drive outta town in any direction, find some brush and hunt. It took us a couple days to figure out what the birds like, but then it was on! Limited every day. The last day we limited on roosters within the first 25 min. and then hit the road. And then got stranded in Petal S.D. for a night as a blizzard hit all of N.D, S.D. and half of Nebraska. Woke up to a three foot drift in front of the truck. It was an interesting trip.

Oh and if your in mitchell, check out the corn palace and definitely the CONGO CLUB....

[bobeyerite]

Here is link to a Uguide Service. The guys name is Chis. He can tell you a lot about hunting in SD. Good Luck I hope you and Dad have a very good time............Bob

http://www.uguidesdpheasants.com/pheasant

[Dakota Dogman]

All depends what you want...

Are you a dog guy? 
Do you want to go early season or late? (I prefer late for the pretty long tails)

I'd give Miles Mendel a call;
http://www.lakemiragehunting.com/index.htm
It is a working farm with the best hunting I know.
The money gets you a nice lodge in small town + access to all private land to hunt at your leasure.
Tell them Matt s said hello

God Bless,

[Copperwood]

My buddy lives there and I'm going to see him in December for a week of nothing but hunting. He says the pheasant over there is like seagulls on the coast. I'm stoked. Might get one mounted. 

[canyelk48]

Just drove through SD in April on I-90 and I've never seen so many pheasants in my life!  They're all over the place, so no matter where you chose to hunt, you should be successful with or without a guide.