The top three reasons why South Dakota is a premier pheasant hunting destination
By Andrew Johnson
South Dakota is synonymous with pheasant hunting. The two go hand in hand, as pheasants and pheasant hunting are woven into the very fabric of who we are.
I grew up in South Dakota, and I still call it home. I have also been addicted to hunting pheasants since dropping my first bird as a spindly, 13-year-old kid. That was over 30 years ago, and to this day my heart quickens every time a bird flushes in range.
And while I love running dogs and chasing birds as much as the next hunter, what I’ve learned over the years is that pheasant hunting in the Rushmore State is more than simply the pursuit of a colorful bird. Rather, it’s an immersive experience that’s open to all types of hunters from all walks of life.
With that in mind, here’s an insider’s perspective on the top three reasons why South Dakota stands alone when it comes to making memories in the field.
1. The Birds
First and foremost, it’s no secret that South Dakota boasts the highest pheasant population in the nation. Year after year, hunters routinely harvest more than 1 million roosters each fall. In fact, last year was one of the best seasons in recent memory, as hunters took home more than 1.15 million birds, the highest total in five years.
What’s even better is despite the harsh winter the Dakotas experienced, wildlife officials remain steadfast in their assertion that this hunting season will be on par with last year — even better in some places, thanks to a little help from Mother Nature.
According to the state’s “2023 Upland Outlook,” a report assembled each year by upland bird biologists with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, timely rains across much of the state this spring and summer set the stage for ideal nesting and brood rearing habitat for pheasant production. Following strong pheasant numbers in 2022, the outlook expects pheasant hunters to enjoy another year of hunting like nowhere else in the county.
2. The Landscape
While it’s true South Dakota is the pheasant capital, it’s also called the Land of Infinite Variety. Simply stated, South Dakota is a big state that’s chock full of different landscapes. In short, pheasant country in one county is often completely different from pheasant country just a few counties over.
For example, if you prefer trailing a big-running pointer through the short grass, central and western South Dakota has you covered. Or, if you prefer wandering through a mat of cattails as flushing dogs like springers or Labs engage in close-quarters combat with tight-holding roosters, then all points of the James River Valley and the Coteau des Prairies regions in the eastern half of the state will be to your liking. Like walking cornfields and CRP patches in river-valley country? Yep, there’s plenty of that, too.
In short, there’s something for everyone that fits any style of hunting, leaving pheasant hunters with an infinite number of options from which to choose.
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3. The Opportunity
As mentioned, most of South Dakota caught timely spring rains, and the habitat responded in kind. That’s an important point this year, as grass and crops in the primary pheasant range across western, central and northeastern parts of the state are in better shape heading into fall than the last few years. That bodes well for fall hunting prospects, because where there’s high-quality habitat next to food sources, there’s also going to be birds.
South Dakota is approximately 80% privately owned, but the state still boasts millions of acres that are open to public hunting. In addition to lands owned and managed by state and federal wildlife entities, nearly 1.5 million acres of private ground is currently enrolled in the state’s walk-in programs. That means over 2,340 square miles of private ground are leased by the state, put into habitat programs and opened for public hunting access.
In other words, if an outfitter or guide isn’t in your budget, please know that public-land opportunities are central to the pheasant hunting experience in South Dakota. While not every patch of public has birds on it, there are plenty that do. Plus, don’t forget that public areas are quite often big blocks of habitat that can potentially offer the best cover for miles around.
This year, some walk-in ground and other CRP acres in southeast South Dakota have been hayed or grazed due to emergency management practices brought on by drought conditions. That means calling ahead or scouting when you’re able — like from dawn until shooting hours start at 10 a.m. — will be more important than ever. After you sort through all the public options at your disposal, however, you’ll still be left with plenty of public places to hunt— probably more than you could tackle in several fall seasons, let alone one fall traipsing through pheasant country.
And, speaking of opportunity, don’t forget pheasant season overlaps with a large part of the state’s prairie grouse season, open from Sept. 16 to Jan. 7 statewide. Like pheasants, sharptail and prairie chicken numbers are expected to be similar to last year when hunters harvested more than 63,600 birds. It’s a great time to be a bird hunter in South Dakota, and if a mixed-bag hunt is on your bucket list, there’s no better time than the present to give it a try.
Be Part of the Tradition
While the sheer numbers of birds and the special places they call home are South Dakota’s calling card, it’s the overall experience that keeps people coming back. Since the first pheasant season opened more than 100 years ago, pheasant hunting has evolved into a vital part of South Dakota’s soul. It’s simply part of who we are, and we want others to experience the tradition that we know and love.
It's the relationships. The land. The bird. They all combine to make South Dakota the true land of opportunity for hunters to make new memories each fall. Take advantage of it. You’ll be glad you did.