South Dakota Pheasants 10.24.09

Well, I’m back from my annual quick couple day pheasant hunt in South Dakota. Since meeting my wife Stacie back a few years ago, Rufus and I have been joining her family out in Hoven, SD for an annual family pheasant hunt the first or second weekend of the season. This year was no different as we picked her brother Tyler up in Redwood Falls, MN and headed West to Hoven, SD. With hearing the rumors, reports and knowing the conditions of the crops here in MN, I knew we would have a tough time seeing a lot of birds on our hunt. However, I was still shocked at how wet it was out there. Hardly any of the crops have been harvested in that area and by the looks of it, it may be awhile. A moisture sample of corn was tested off one Frost farm and it was still @ 25%. Not to mention all the standing water in the fields and it rained every day we were out there, with more rain in the forecast this week.

Our first hunt started on Friday as Rufus and I joined Stacie’s brothers Travis, Tyler, and her dad Jack. Stacie came along for the walk and help chasing these world renowned birds on Friday. We were then joined by a few other people from MN as Jacks Mothers Sisters Husband had a few people in town and wanted to walk with us. It was cold, lil foggy and lightly raining out as we made our way to the first piece to hunt. The East Farm is my favorite one of the bunch for a few reasons. I usually see deer, and Stacie and I had a real close encounter of a few yards 2 years ago on a 140” whitetail as he erupted out of the grass right in front of us. The second there is always a lil food plot of corn about 75 yards wide and about 400 yards long. The corn always holds birds and they come out like gang busters and this piece is mainly prairie grass surround by crops so birds are always plentiful especially if the crops are out. However this trip all crops were in but still our best place to hunt. We got a game plan together as Jack, Travis, and Mike posted on the end as Stacie, Tyler, Mike, Paul, Rufus, Rusty, Luke and I made our walk. Like clock work about half way down birds started to pop out like crazy as gun shots started to sound and the words Rooster rang in the air.

With 3 dogs (Rufus, Luke & Rusty) zig zagging the corn the birds did not stand a chance of staying in the corn as some either made an effort to flea in the air, while some others stayed on the ground and made a run for the tall grass. After collecting the birds and regrouping after the mayhem. We made a few passes in the tall grass and made a wide swath covering much ground and harvesting even a few more birds for the back of our vests as we had some great dog work and good company along the way.

After hunting a few more farms our group was split up as the other members in our hunting party left us. Stacie joined Travis, Tyler, Rufus and myself for a little road hunting that evening as she was our driver and Jack stayed back to attend to a few things at the farm. At the end of the day we ended up with our 12 bird limit for our 4 hunters in our group. After cleaning the birds, having a few :toasts:, feeding Rufus and myself, I was ready to call it a day as my head hit the pillow and I was out.

Saturday morning came quick as hunting started at 10 am now rather then noon. The second day found just Travis, Tyler, Jack, Rufus and I hunting in the cold light rain. However, we were joined by my little nephew Trey and his cousin Kaleb who helped us post and walk for these wiley SD birds. Not seeing as many birds but still having some good chances our aim was not as true as we wished, but we still bagged some birds along the way as we worked mainly the same ground as the day before, but some new stuff also and we decided to call it a day until it was time to road hunt. For the evening road hunt, it was just Travis, Tyler, Rufus and I as we headed out of town to find some birds in the ditches. We started out good, but hit a cold spell for birds as we just did not quite see as many but missed a few to end the night. Jus tliek the night prior Rufus came in handy as he once again ran down a bird that took off after hitting the ditch. Rufus took off after the bird into the bean field for a good 5 minutes before Travis picked him up in a bean row way way down the row with a rooster in his mouth.

Well as the sun disappeared in the sky and darkness sat in, we made out way back into town and the farm to clean the days birds and clean up a little ourselves as the whole family including Grandma made our way to Boones. Where had something to eat, talk about the day and celebrate the “young pup” Tylers 26th birthday. This small town of Hoven is a great place to visit and see how the small town way of life and values still exists out there in the world.

Even though it was real tough hunting and not up to the usual SD hunting expectations, I still had a great time sharing hunting and just time in general with Stacie’s family. As I get older, to me that is what it is all about. Getting the youth involved and sharing time in the field wth friends and family. It was also another SD trip I was able to watch Rufus work made it even more special. I just hope I can have a few more with the old boy before his time comes. Although, when the time does comes where Rufus can’t handle his all day hunting duties, I think we have a found a great Road Hunting dog, right Tyler. Having two brother in laws like Travis & Tyler, much less my Father in law Jack who enjoy this passion of hunting like I do makes it truly an enjoyment to visit and spend time with my in laws, including my Mother in Law. A perk that I know I’m very lucky to have as many people do not share the same enjoyment I get from visiting the “other half” of the family.

Well my bird season is well under way but for the next 3-4 weeks it will be put on hold as I will be 100 % in Deer mode. I will be chasing deer in 4 states with Rifle and Bow, just hoping I can find some time to sleep and eat. Where this whirlwind of the next few weeks will bring me or the results of it no one knows, but I will be giving it my all to check in and give updates along the way. I just hope some hard work pays off for me along my friends and family as it should get interesting here fairly soon.

Stay tuned right here to IN DEPTH OUTDOORS and until next time Lip is out!

**Click on Pictures to Enlarge**