pheasant hunting question

[vetspet.ind]

my best buddies hunt pheasants in the fall...one of these yrs i'd like to go to iowa or south dakota and spend 3-4 days in our truck campers hunting in a good area...i dont know much about setting up such a trip and wonder if any of the guys on this site would be able to give me tips on places to go, or show us a good time themselves in these areas...ie if anybody has a farm or know of good public areas that would be productive etc....thanks for any help...steve

[mac]

As long as you are mobile, I would wait and see what the brood count that comes from the SD GFP in August says. Local Conservation Officers will help also. I assume you will be hunting with dogs and that is a big help.

You need to go to an area that is not as popular and still has pheasants as that will not be quite as commercial.

[Box]

For what it is worth, a contact I had at Pheasants Forever told me that the best place to go is actually Nebraska. Of course, the numbers in SD are incredible, but the cost is as well and lots of hunters. They mentioned Nebraska because fewer hunters, still tons of birds, but they also said the terrain was much more comfortable walking - they said like walking on a level street with grass. I haven't been to either place, so can't comment, other than hear-say.

My buddy goes to SD and pays to hunt on farmers land, and they shoot tons of birds, and I think it is like $100 a gun per day, but I think that includes staying there and a meal or two. If that works, then you can probably find a ton of places.

Have fun!
-Box

http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=103808

[Eyez]

Avoid eastern SD for the first 2-3 weeks of the season unless you have private land access lined up ahead of time or don't mind *literally* doing battle to make sure you have a spot to hunt. When we used to hunt public land on opening day, we'd have to get to the spot we wanted to hunt by around 8:30 am (season opens at noon), and park vehicles and spread people all around it to keep other people from walking on on us. On occasion it still happened anyway. The public land in SD is great, just don't expect to have much of it to yourself for the first part of the season.

Personally, I'd suggest going to the Mobridge/Akaska area. There are fewer people and lots of public land. Also, I think that all corps land is open to pheasant hunting. Check that for yourself first though, don't take my word for it.


Dusty

[The Bullhead]

Steve,

Drop me an email if you'd like.

ryannstacy@svtv.com

[eyewinder]

Having lived the better part of 50-plus years in Nebraska, I'm scratching my head at the statement ". . .Nebraska because fewer hunters, still tons of birds, but they also said the terrain was much more comfortable walking -- they said like walking on a level street with grass. . ."

1) There are areas with lots of birds -- and they are usually jealously controlled by land owners/leasors
2) The above-mentioned terrain exists, but I can't imagine finding birds there (hence, the golf course reference) -- there are probably fewer hunters there, though
3) Much of Nebraska is over-farmed (fenceline-to-fenceline crops) and "under-habitated"

You're welcome to come and give it a try, but my experience during the past 10 years has been that you'll see more deer and chicken hawks than in-range rooster pheasants!

[Box]

:)
Like I said, I haven't been there, just what I was told by some who I thought should know... Maybe those guys just want to keep more folks out of SD, heh!

Thanks for info though, maybe the 12 ga. can fit in the Taylor Made bag ;)
-Box

http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=103808

[bob oh]

You might check the trade a trip section, I arranged an Iowa hunting - Lake Erie fishing trade there a few years ago and had a great time. Think the guys from Iowa did also.

rod bender bob

[eyewinder]

If the pheasants are somewhat scarce during your round of golf, I can almost guarantee a reasonably good goose hunt during your stroll!:D

[Browner]

vetsped give me an email and I'll help you out. browner@rushmore.com

[Setter]

Steve,I live in NW Ia and there is a ton of public land around.Also alot of camping in the area.You won't have any problem finding spots and the hunter pressure will really back off during the week-days.If you need further advice or help drop me a e-mail and be glad to help you out.
Ryan Hale

rchale@midlands.net

[vetspet.ind]

you guys are a great group....hope i get my new e-mail set right...will contact all of you...gotta talk to my buds and see if they are interested...thought i'd surprise them if this thread produced any offers.....thanks again....only on wc...steve

[bdirks]

I am originally from LeMars, IA and I have a bunch of family in Central and Eastern South Dakota. I have worn the tires off of the truck hunting pheasants in North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. If I were to suggest a freelance trip I would suggest Central and Western Iowa. Do not come the first week of the season. Give it a couple weeks before you come. Opening weekend can be a real pain with all of the people and if you give it a couple weeks you allow more time for corn to be harvested. The more corn out pushes birds to cover. I would pick up an Iowa Sportsman's Atlas, that lists all off the public ground in the state, county by county. Also, if you have an idea where you want to go, call the local court house and get a copy of the county plot map, that lists all the ground in the county, township by township, and the owners of the ground. Iowa still has a ton of farm ground that isn't leased for hunting, and we still have some farmers that are nice people that will let you hunt.

Goos luck,
bdirks

[ND]

My two cents is that pheasant hunting in new area a long way from home is no different than going to a new body of water a long way from home. You can easily spend a day or more trying to find an area that is productive and with only a few days to hunt I would be inclined to try one of the many guides/commercial operations at least for a day or two you won't regret it.

[Prime Time Ice Fishn]

I guide ice fishermen on Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay. I'd be willing to trade an ice charter this winter for a good week of pheasant hunting in Iowa, preferably near Marion County, where I already have a place to stay. E-mail me at hageman.2@osu.edu