Yes the news may be rough out of South Dakota and there is no sugarcoating it. A bad winter, a drought – and the biggest killer of all, habitat loss – has South Dakota pheasant numbers down. But the state still has more birds than anywhere else, and regions and zones with good cover. Pheasant hunters will do well to come, work hard and hunt with purpose. Jared Wiklund, Public Relations Manager for Pheasants Forever, offers the following insight: “In 2013, South Dakota witnessed it’s modern day low pheasant roadside survey index at 1.52 pheasants per mile, a preseason population of 6.2 million pheasants, and a rooster harvest of just under a million birds.” “To put it all in perspective,” he continues, “the roadside counts for 2017 are higher than several years ago and are foreshadowing a rooster harvest statistic, most likely around the one million bird mark, that should have upland hunters itching for the season to start. It’s still the pheasant capital of the world, and I for one will be making the annual pilgrimage over the border with my dogs to take part in South Dakota’s legendary upland traditions.” Runia thinks similarly. “Although pheasant abundance is below last year and the ten-year average,” says Runia, “there is still opportunity for quality pheasant hunting across the state.” “At the statewide level, pheasant abundance is similar to 2013, when pheasant harvest was a respectable 980,000,” he confirms. “And the Pierre, Chamberlain, Winner, and Mitchell areas are above 2013 levels this year.” "Hunters have harvested more than 1 million birds in each of the last three years, or 9.5 birds per hunter, per year,” adds Jim Hagen, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism. Pheasant harvest could – read could – still approach a million birds: That is, if hunters come and hunt. “Another bright spot is the addition of 8,000 acres of high quality habitat to our 1.2 million acrea Walk-in Area Program, which opens private lands to public hunting,” adds Runia. “Most of the additions are enrolled in CRP. Enrollment was partially funded by an NRCS Voluntary Public Access grant.”
Agree. SD still has more birds and better hunting than anywhere else. Let's get out and hunt.
I have owned 30 acres of land surrounded by trees 10 miles north of Aberdeen for over 30 years. I quit hunting pheasant 3 years ago due to low numbers. I have seen many birds on this land in past years as much of it is never harvested. In the whole year of 2017 I saw 1 pheasant using the land. After no hunting for 3 years I walked the trees early this winter and did not even see a hen. I believe the chemicals used by farmers are killing either the birds themselves or the food they require to live. Songbirds were nonexistent the summer of 2017. Nothing but crickets. And I am sure they will have a spray for them soon as well.
I agree with Bob. Way more birds than where I'm from and I'd love to head out there to hunt.