Leaving for the Conde, SD area (Watertown/Aberdeen) on Thursday. We stay with Jerry Taylor, who provides us with a very nice house, cook your own meals, and he leases some great hunting land where we enjoy private rights to hunt. The land is dominated by CRP and mixed crops, with some nice stripped corn fields if the timing is right. Our group is usually 8-10 guys. We will raise literally hundreds of pheasants during our three day hunt. We always go on Halloween weekend because of guys' schedule needs and the weather is usually pretty decent. This year, which is quite typical, the weather is forecast to be sunny, not too windy, and temps in the high 40's to low 50's, with mid 30's at night. Hunting runs from 10:00 a.m. until sundown. Last year was very tough with incredibly wet conditions, little corn out due to rainfall, even beans not picked at the end of October. We still raised many, many birds and were very happy with the hunting. We have springers, labs, and the top dog, my Brittany (she would be offended if I did not stand up for her!). We will prepare traditional breakfast fare, Jerry will provide lunch (well, his mom does, including home made dessert), then dinner will be beef brisket, pheasant, grilled shrimp, pasta dishes, chili, and Lord knows what else! We don't allow any alcohol except for medicinal purposes...and, we seem to have a lot of sick guys. NO ALCOHOL EVER before or during the hunt!!! Our dates for the hunt are typically the third weekend of the season, so the birds are starting to get pretty smart...but that is OK, since the group has shot more pheasants in their lives than is probably necessary. We just have a great time watching the dogs, seeing our sons and grandsons enjoy their first hunts, and enjoying beautiful South Dakota...a true sportman's paradise. If you have never been, put it on your bucket list. You will not regret it, I promise.

Jerry, who is an excellent host and guide, does not pay me one cent for this post; in fact, he does not know that I am posting this message. I will tell you that his business is called Coteau Valley Pheasant Hunting, no website, but his cell phone is 605-380-4860. I will tell you about our hunt when we return next week. In the meantime, walleye fishing, pheasant hunting, and Iowa Hawkeyes are the BEST!

Im leaving tomorrow for 5 days on the I90 corridor from Plankinton to Presho. Ive been out the last 2 weekends driving around enjoying the South Dakota experience without hunting. We did catch a nice limit of walleyes yesterday also. My hopes are to one day retire there. Its getting closer every day, so Im spending more time out there every year.

Does Jerry do single people or is it just for big groups of executives with much cash to throw around. Not wanting to offend anyone, but this has been my observation on some outfitters.