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Forums10
Topics38,541
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Apr 29th, 2024
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,025 Likes: 51
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,025 Likes: 51 |
Feedback from my South Dakota friends around Platte is that population is down and the drought has had a significant impact, though they are still seeing some birds. We have shifted out hunt North to the Aberdeen area where numbers are predicted to be better
Michael Dittamo
Topeka, KS
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 197 Likes: 5
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 197 Likes: 5 |
Mixed report from our farmer friend up in NoDak. And fortunately for us he farms/owns a large amount of ground. Seems that the pheasant numbers are good and seeing quite a few huns but sharptail numbers are down. And even more fortunate for us we stay at his place. We are looking forward to it again.
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Hal
Unregistered
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Hal
Unregistered
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Lots of young teal in the wetlands in SE ND. What was left of our pheasant population did OK, but I have seen no sharptail or gray partridge broods. A huge area of CRP by my place will be dug up in a few weeks after haying and the sharptail lek that has been there 23 years will go with it. Big bunches of doves not seen here for several years.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
Our friend's properties in SD near Huron started a decline in pheasant a few years ago. These last few yrs have been as poor as I've seen in the 20+ yrs I've been going. Although a dedicated guy with a good dog could limit, it required a good effort and multiple fields. I'm hoping the mild winter has helped the area and the draught hasn't dampened it there.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
In your opinion was 2009 considered a 'good' year? Because the last time I was there was in 2009 and I've never seen so many birds. 
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
Treb,
09 sounds about right. Seems like our hunting got a little boost right around that year, or the year before. Overall, no matter the state reports, the highest quantities of sightings of birds was at its best 20 yrs ago, on our hunting land around Huron. Much better. The worst I've seen was last year and the year before. There were still pockets of them in decent numbers. Again, just on our friend's properties...probably 10 sections total, scattered southwest of Huron. The Chamberlain area always seems to have higher numbers reported. I'd like to hunt some of the public areas there with the new dog.
Last edited by Chuck H; 09/03/12 01:38 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
Chuck, that's pretty much what I was planning to do. In November hit the Chamberlain area first then drive to Deadwood to see how good that area is. Keeping my fingers crossed for the birds to hold and also the weather.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
I don't think Deadwood is pheasant country. I doubt you'll do any better than Chamberlain anywhere in the state.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,021 |
Ah yes but there is Saloon #10!! Any birds at all in that part of the state?
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571 Likes: 9
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 571 Likes: 9 |
wburns, I think even ND Game & Fish would tell you that one reason more birds were shot last year than 2010 was also weather-related: given your mild winter, hunters were still doing their thing right up to the end of the season. Makes a big difference vs a season that ends in early Dec due to a whole lot of snow. Agreed about the longer season for most due to weather but our bird numbers were just not there and most visiting hunters I know never even bothered coming back. I hunt a fair amount all around the state and unless you were in the sw part it pretty much sucked except for isolated pockets. Most people are not that hardcore to keep hunting even if the weather is decent if the numbers are way down. My area is traditionally one of the top nonres spots and hnter numbers were way down.
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