SD Pheasants

[CouesPursuit]

One of my best friends from high school had always talked about how his dad helped some guys invest in a pheasant preserve back in South Dakota. Even though there is not an ounce of hunter in my good buddy, I remember asking him to take me out there dozens of times. Finally, after 12 years of being good friends with the whole family, and basically forgetting about the farm, one of his younger brothers asked if I was interested in going back to SD with him in early October. I called him every day for 4 days straight, asking him to check availability for November 6-9, and I would pay for and schedule our Allegiant flights immediately. After 5 days and a short convincing to the wife about the opportunity at hand, tickets were booked and I was going on my first quest for roosters.

 

Fast forward to Friday, November 6th, getting picked up from the airport in Rapid City. Sadie was the most loving and pleasantly annoying GSP I've ever encountered. She was relentless in proving it for our hour and a half commute to the farm.

 

 

I finally managed to pin her against my side and snapped a photo of the country driving in. Fences, and wide open spaces.

 

 

Once arriving at the farm, there wasn't a minute wasted. "Get your blaze orange on there, grab a box of those there shells, here is an ol' pump here see," said ol' Jim, "think you can handle that?" I've owned a Remington 870 since I was 15, this thing felt like gold in my hand.

 

 

We head out of one gate, enter another, and it's out of the truck, we're hunting. My buddy and our other host headed in a different direction. At this first spot, we would work two far ends of an often-dry slough and we would all eventually meet in the middle. Jim, his buddy Doc, and myself set out.

 

The hunt was on. Jim's 4 year old GSP couldn't have been more excited to get out of the truck and get to business. She would leap through or over anything in her way, tules and all. After not more than 2 minutes, she was on point 20 yards ahead. I had chills of excitement running through my body as soon as it hit me; loaded gun, working dogs, and a brisk right to left wind blocked by the carhartt but howling around my head and hands. This was awesome!

 

 

As we approached the dog on the point, a rooster shot up and took to the wind immediately. As soon as I shouldered the Wingmaster, the bird was up and over Doc's head and I retreated the draw. That rooster got lucky! Not 2 minutes later and the dog was again on point. This time, Doc was far off looking for the escaped rooster, and this rooster was mine. He took to the air, I raised the gun, and fired straight into him. Dead bird. As the dog retrieved my first pheasant in a planted stand of small pines, another rooster jumped up and was immediately put to the ground. I quickly reloaded my 2 missing shells and before I could get the second one in, the sound of pheasants exploded out of trees. 3rd shot, 3rd pheasant. Unreal. I limited out on my first pheasant hunt in less than 10 minutes!

 

I spent the rest of the day taking pictures and video, as well as enjoy a cool IPA (or 6).

 

 

 

Find the rooster! South porch view.

 

 

West.

 

 

East.

 

 

North.

 

 

Roosters wanted back in the pen after their hens!

 

 

Deer Everywhere!

 

 

 

 

Day 2 started off just as strong, but with my hunters safety card on hand, I elected to mentor a young fellow who was on his quest for his first pheasant. Being done with shooting for the day in 10 minutes again wouldn't have been near as much fun. It took a little work, but we made our way through several well designed drives and literally had a blast.

 

 

 

Little man got his first rooster.

 

 

Coons and porcupines are pheasants killers and were trapped and exterminated, or found pointing by the dogs and exterminated.

 

 

 

Had an awesome time chasing these guys. I'm pretty sure I would be addicted if we had them natively in Arizona. Day 2.

 

 

Ended the trip with a round of golf at the country club and few shoes of blackjack in Deadwood. Caught some bighorn on the side of the highway to boot.

 

 

 

A trip that is strongly recommended. Thanks for looking!

[Tac]

I have done this the last two years with my father at my cousins family farm it is a blast.

[Big Browns]

Very cool hunt! Great story and awesome pictures! Looks like you had a blast. Are you going to get any of the birds mounted?

[CouesPursuit]

Thanks!

 

I thought long and hard about it, elected to wait, and immediately regretted it once I got home and back to reality. If I would have had my own vehicle there I would have 100%, part of me didn't want to interfere with the hosts.

[trphyhntr]

good stuff, glad the mother land was good to you.

[Arizona Griz]

Great write up and pictures.

 

Definitely on my bucket list.

[lancetkenyon]

Awesome thread. Makes me want to go duck hunting now......hint hint.

[Tres]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[hoghntr]

Aweaome! Looks like a blast

[PRDATR]

I have a buddy who lives up there, hopefully one of these years I'll go and have as much fun as you did.

[johnnie blaze]

You must be a writer :-)

[CouesPursuit]

good stuff, glad the mother land was good to you.

 

Yes, the mother land of South Dakota was good to me. Except the few shoes of blackjack in Deadwood, I lied as I actually didn't even make it through a full shoe. I watched a few though!

 

Great write up and pictures.

 

Definitely on my bucket list.

 

I have a buddy who lives up there, hopefully one of these years I'll go and have as much fun as you did.

 

 

GO! I've shot a lot of ducks, geese, quail, and dove here in Arizona over the last 15 years, over dogs and without. I knew I was going to enjoy dogs pointing and flushing big roosters but it exceeded all my expectations. And wow they're tasty.

 

 

You must be a writer :-)

 

I do enjoy talking and sharing experiences about hunting and fishing with like minded individuals, but I'm no writer! Some people like short and sweet, others elaboration. If that was a compliment, thank you.

 

Thanks again all. I'm very fortunate.

[IA Born]

That was my greatest love growing up in Iowa and its the thing I miss the most about back there. There isn't much better than seeing a dog freeze on point and seeing (and hearing) that rooster flush! Congrats!

[johnnie blaze]

It was a compliment. It was written very well.