Best time to hunt pheasant in SD?

prairiefire · Post by **prairiefire** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:32 pm

I'm planning to book a SD pheasant hunt at Oak Tree Lodge (Clark, SD) for my husband's birthday gift this year. But since his birthday isn't until late July, I'll have to reserve the dates well before he knows about it. I'm not a hunter myself, so I was hoping you all might be able to weigh in on something for me.

What time of year would offer the best hunting--and most enjoyable experience--for my husband, two older boys (10 yrs. old and just tagging along), and our young dog (now 1 yr.)? In researching on this forum, I know there are issues I wouldn't even think to consider--like if crops haven't been harvested, you can't enjoy the dog work--so I'd really appreciate any feedback you might have.

Outside of the regular pheasant season, they have 1000 acres in preserve, so I've got from Sept 1-March 31 to work with.

Thanks for your help!

ohiogsp · Post by **ohiogsp** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:42 pm

You want to be there when they have some of the crops out and are finishing the rest up. The birds hide in the last fields that are up and when they cut them that is the best time to be there. I have no idea when this is and it would be different from year to year somewhat. We have a farmer in Iowa that leaves us rows of corn (5 rows wide then cuts 20 or so then 5 standing and so on) this is great hunting. Good luck, I am sure someone here can give you a date that should be good.

snowman · Post by **snowman** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:45 pm

I have hunted just south east of Clark. My grandad owns a bunch of land down in Badger SD. I like to do most of my pheasant hunting twards the coldest part of the year. If its to warm it seems like the birds get really jumpy and will run. The snow also seems to keep them bunched up so you can get close enough for a shot. Others on here can give you a better idea if they are frequent hunters in the area.

Casey J.

larue · Post by **larue** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:12 pm

I would talk to the ranch and ask them,as they will know the conditions
crops ect,better than anyone else.
I would also take into account later in the year it can get pretty ugly out
there weather wise,probably not much fun for young kids to try to hunt in cold weather.
If they plant birds,to add to the native birds it really doesnt matter when you go out,early season means more cover but much nicer weather.
I would look at late sept early oct for preserve pheasant hunting only,you could still do some grouse hunting on public lands.

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:41 pm

We don't have any pheasants in SD.

Hunting public land the first couple of weeks are pretty crowded. Later in the season will be less crowded but the temperture can get down there. A good time would be sometime in November. 1st or 2nd week is usually fair temps and a little less pressure. I would say the 2nd or 3rd week would be about the best. The temps normally are not too cold, but that can change from year to year. Can be 70 degrees one year and 20 degrees the next. Our weather can be real fun at times, one thing though, if you don't like the weather just wait 15 minutes because it will change.

If they have all private land to hunt I would suggest last week of October, mild temps and the crops should be on the way out.

PM me and I can give you some details on this years weather and bird activity. I live about 40 miles east of Clark and have hunted just north of there in the past.

prairiefire · Post by **prairiefire** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:53 pm

We don't have any pheasants in SD.

Sorry, Blade--but I'm afraid the secret is out!

This is a shot of my twins, Sam and Noah, on their first SD pheasant hunt (they tagged along with my husband and his customers last October).

If they have all private land to hunt I would suggest last week of October, mild temps and the crops should be on the way out.

Oak Tree has about 7000 acres of private land, 1000 in preserve, so they don't need to worry about public hunting pressure.

I'll definitely ask for some advice from the lodge, and they certainly strike me as being completely honest and forthright, but 1. being "a girl" and 2. not having a clue about any of this stuff, I figured it didn't hurt to have a little information from people with nothing to gain. Maybe I've watched too many Dateline specials?

Anyway, thanks again everyone for the advice! And, Blade, I'll definitely check in with you this fall to see how things are looking. Thanks for the offer!

Jager · Post by **Jager** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:17 pm

I went to Watertown, SD this past fall (left the day after Thanksgiving), and had a great time.
I did a do it myself hunt, where as, I booked my own hotel, drove out there and hunted public lands...with the help of the SDGFP, they sent me a map of SD and all the public areas and were very easy to read and follow and accessible. In the week that I hunted I ran into only 2 other hunters, which was actually a blessing as the roosters were vary weary late in the season and would run a considerable amount before they would fly, so the hunters and I would take turns as blockers. The hens would hold tight and had many nice points, with my 2 shorthairs.
The only problem I encountered was the weather...it got very cold with tempatures not getting out of the teens on most days. However, as anyone can tell you that has spent time in SD, if you don't like the weather now wait 15 min. and it can change.
I will be going again this coming year and will spend 2 weeks...if you think your husband would enjoy do-it-yourself hunting on public ground I could meet him around that area or around that time. Good Luck.

prairiefire · Post by **prairiefire** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 9:24 pm

I know my husband would definitely be interested, just a matter of if he can steal away from work. I'll definitely pass that along, Jager.
Thanks!

markj · Post by **markj** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:35 am

I heard best time is during the season

thunderhead · Post by **thunderhead** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:12 am

If you are looking for a hunt where you can enjoy the dog work, I would make sure that the ranch would accommodate that style of hunting. Many of the pheasant hunting operations that I have seen load the hunters up in an old school bus and drive field withe half the hunters posted as blockers. That is not my style of hunting but some like it because they will see large number of birds.

I like to hunt mostly CRP grass where I will be able to shoot roosters over point. On a pheasant hunting ranch, the birds still get pushed around quite a bit from the groups hat are brought in to hunt. After a fresh snow is my favorite time to hunt as the birds will hold pretty well.

Really there is no bad time to hunt SD. You will have to look at what weather conditions you would prefer. There are plenty of birds and I always have a great hunt with the dogs when we take our trips out there during various times of the season.

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:36 am

I went to Watertown, SD this past fall (left the day after Thanksgiving), and had a great time.

Jager, I work in Watertown. Let me know when you get over this way again. Where abouts did you hunt last year?

In the week that I hunted I ran into only 2 other hunters, which was actually a blessing as the roosters were vary weary late in the season and would run a considerable amount before they would fly, so the hunters and I would take turns as blockers.

The birds were very jumpy right from the start this year. We had birds bustin out way ahead of us the first days out. Very skiddish birds. Lots of runners.

Sorry, Blade--but I'm afraid the secret is out!

Darn it, I wonder who told.

Just contact me and I will be happy to let you know how things are looking around here this fall.

prairiefire · Post by **prairiefire** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 11:44 am

Many of the pheasant hunting operations that I have seen load the hunters up in an old school bus and drive field withe half the hunters posted as blockers.

One of the things that I really liked about this place is that they don't combine groups, regardless of size. It will just be my husband, the guide, our two boys, and our dog.

When you talk about birds getting pushed around by big groups--do you mean during that particular hunt? Or do large groups that hunted the land previously change the way the birds behave?

I guess one of my questions is, would we be much better off during the official hunting season, as they have much more land to hunt--and those birds won't have seen as many hunters? Our boys have a few days off of school in early October and I wanted to know if there will be enough of a difference in the hunt to justify letting them cut out of class for a day or two?

Sorry--I'm trying to get my brain wrapped around all of this!
And thanks again. You're all helping me generate some good questions for the lodge.

thunderhead · Post by **thunderhead** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 12:57 pm

Even though it is private ground, it is getting hunted quit a bit from the people who book hunts. Some of them will be very large groups. It will not have as many people hunting it as say public ground, but it will have more attention due to the operation marketing to book hunters to fill up for the season. If you compare it to a farm that is not regularly hunted except by the land owner and family for opening weekend, and the occasional hunter who stops into chat and ask permission, there is a definite difference in the way the birds behave during the season. Weather conditions will also be a factor of how the birds act. When it is windy they can be a little more challenging to hunt.

If I were going to SD, I would do it during the regular season to hunt the wild birds that SD is known for. Even on the non preserve land that the big pheasant hunting operations have, they will still supplement the bird numbers with released birds. Many of the birds come from MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc in Janesville, WI.

Anytime you have the opportunity to enjoy a pheasant hunting experience over your dogs in SD is a great time that will produce a lot of great memories. I am sure your husband, kids, and dogs will have a wonderful time.

gonehuntin' · Post by **gonehuntin'** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:52 pm

Blade wrote: The birds were very jumpy right from the start this year. We had birds bustin out way ahead of us the first days out. Very skiddish birds. Lots of runners.

Darn it, I wonder who told. Just contact me and I will be happy to let you know how things are looking around here this fall.

I think that was true all over SD. We hunted around Iola, birds were recieving virtually no pressure, and they were jumping 80-100 yards ahead of us. Very frustrating.