Well dogon, it might seem nuts to you to wait until the birds come off the roost, but there is no arguing that SD's bird management is producing the most huntable pheasant population in the country, maybe in the world if considered by the square mile.
There are real reasons for it but let me share the local versions of why and maybe you will have enough of a chuckle the next time you come to hunt, you might not be driven nuts.
First version: The bar owners rcognised that if the hunters did not have to get up until mid-morning, they would spent more time in the bars, petitioned the state legislature to open the season at 11:00 AM.
Second version: The state's men of the cloth wanted to be certain that half of their flock would not miss Sunday services, petitioned the state' legislature for an 11:00 AM opening hour.
Third version: The local merchants knew that if the hunters could not start before mid-morning, that they would out of boredom, shop more and so they too petitioned the state's legislature. Cabelas' knowing this to be valid, chose to build a store in Mitchell, about the epi-center of the bird hunting.
Fourth version: The hunters' from Minnisota needed more time to reach the SD fields, so they had their SD kinfolk petition the state's legislature.
Fifth version: My neighbor's around Henry found my antics at daybreak during the fall offense and they petitioned the state's legislature to keep me from distrubing their peace and quite until 11:00AM.
