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South
Dakota Pheasant Hunting Information
There is only one upland game bird that matters most to
a South Dakota resident, that’s the pheasant. Each
season many, if not most, SD families and friends set a
date to get together during the South Dakota pheasant
hunting season and relax and enjoy their time spent
together.
The cackling, running, spectacular, wise, elusive,
beautiful, erratic, gaudy immigrant belongs to the South
Dakotans. Sure, other states have them also, but not in
the numbers we have. South Dakota pheasant hunting in
its worst year is better than other states pheasant
hunting during their best years.
Each year, South Dakota pheasant hunting enthusiasts
take to the fields in search of the elusive upland bird
that has thrived so well in our state. Some of these
local pheasant hunters have great pheasant hunting dogs;
others prefer to drive corn fields with friends and
family, with-out the aid of any dog. Many of these
hunters feel it is the time spent with their families
and friends that make the hunt such traditional event.
Sure, if you ask, they tell you they enjoy harvesting
the ring neck pheasant, but they flock to these fields
year after year, regardless if the birds are in
abundance or not. The local South Dakota pheasant
hunting philosophy is about important time spent
together, and the camaraderie that follows.
The South Dakota pheasant hunting season is monitored by
the South Dakota game, fish and parks department. The
regular season is scheduled as follows: Opening day is
on the third Saturday of October yearly, the South
Dakota pheasant hunting season continues through-out the
end of December yearly.
During the first week of the South Dakota pheasant
hunting season, the scheduled daily start time is always
at 12 noon central time. This start time was developed
by the South Dakota game, fish, and parks department,
and has caused some out-of-state pheasant hunters to ask
why and who this has come to be.
The South Dakota pheasant hunting season started at 12
noon many years back. South Dakota locals have a variety
of reasons, or theories to why this is. It has been said
that many years ago, when a law was decided over a cup
of coffee, a landowner said that he had wanted to go
pheasant hunting with his family, however he would need
time in the mornings to get his daily chores done, and
take care of his families livelihood. Others say, that
early morning start times for the South Dakota pheasant
hunting season would constitute an unfair advantage for
the pheasant hunter, as these pheasants would be near
the road ditches collecting gravel, thus resulting in a
slaughter of the pheasants. Local game wardens state
that with the great numbers of pheasants in SD, early
morning start times are not necessary to harvest limits
on a daily basis, therefore starting later in the
morning or at 12 noon will give the pheasants the time
they need to seek cover before the pheasant hunting is
allowed. Either way, it has worked very well, it is not
only the law, it does give the wily ring neck pheasant
that slight edge over the pheasant hunter. Some say with
all the intelligence and craftiness the South Dakota
pheasants possess, he certainly does not need any help
hiding or running away from pursing pheasant hunters.
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