South Dakota Pheasant Hunting

Last year, approximately 78,000 residents and 103,000 non-residents hunters harvested just over 2.1 million pheasants. Simply put, hunters again should experience a very memorable fall season.

Another mild winter and timely spring precipitation set the stage for widespread habitat conditions that were ideal for nesting, most notably in the central portion of the state where pheasant production was phenomenal.

Results from the 2008 pheasant brood survey indicate the statewide Pheasants Per Mile (PPM) index increased by 9 percent (7.85 to 8.56) compared to the 2007 index and is the highest PPM recorded in the past 45 years! Unlike 2007 when pheasant numbers were up across the state, local survey results were mixed this year, with pheasant counts down in the eastern regions of the state while overall counts in east-central regions are largely unchanged from 2007.

That said, excellent hunting opportunities should be available in all areas of the South Dakota pheasant range.

Lost in all the excitement, however, is the fact that 300,000 CRP acres expired in 2007 - equivalent to a one mile wide strip of nesting habitat positioned from Sioux Falls to the Black Hills of South Dakota - and hundreds of thousands more are set to expire in the near future.

Landowner interest in CRP remains, however, as South Dakota's SAFE program for pheasant habitat was fully subscribed within two weeks (20,200 acres) and a CREP proposal for the James River Watershed Basin will give landowners an opportunity to voluntarily enroll more acres by early 2009.

The equation is simple - if pheasant numbers are to remain high, some of those lost acres need to come back. "The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has helped increase South Dakota's pheasant population to a level not seen in nearly 40 years," said Chad Switzer, the state's Sr. Upland Game Biologist.

Season Opener: Multiple

Featured South Dakota Guides, Outfitters, Lodges

More listings here along with the full South Dakota directory.

South Dakota News Headlines

Recent pheasant news, articles, reports from the state of South Dakota, pheasants forever and other sources.

• Pheasant Season Proposed - Mar. 10, 2009
• SoDak's Pheasant Country of Mitchell Becomes a Pheasants Forever Chapter - Feb. 25, 2009
• Pheasant Hunting the Snow - Nov. 08, 2008
• Shooting Hours End at Sunset - Oct. 30, 2008
• Hunter Success Diminished by Crops in the Fields, Winds - Oct. 20, 2008
• The Opener - Oct. 16, 2008
• Kick Off Hunting Season in Pheasant Country - Oct. 15, 2008
• Plentiful Pheasant Population Will Greet Hunters - Oct. 14, 2008
• Ducks Unlimited Opens Properties in Edmunds, McPherson Counties for Walk-In Area Hunting in Time for Resident-Only Pheasant Season - Oct. 09, 2008
• Updated CRP Rental Rates Make Conservation Programs More Attractive - Oct. 09, 2008

South Dakota State Resources

• South Dakota Division of Wildlife
• South Dakota Pheasant License
• South Dakota Guides & Outfitters Directory

South Dakota Pheasant Forum

Discuss South Dakota pheasant hunting, places to hunt in South Dakota, tips, or meet other hunters at our South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Forum.

South Dakota Pheasant Outlook

South Dakota pheasant hunting outlook, season information, roadside nesting report, and last years pheasant harvest projections. You can read the current pheasant/upland bird outlook at: South Dakota Division of Wildlife

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