Fall Bounty is on its way: As only South Dakota can deliver.
I have spent the last 50 years chasing every critter (furry, finny or fowl like) you can imagine in and around Spink County, SD. The literal birthplace of what has become what I call the Rooster Revolution. Due to the first successful release of the Chinese Ringneck Pheasant taking place just north of our County Seat of Redfield in 1908. The very first sanctioned single day hunt was held here in 1919. I would surmise a good many also welcomely provided sustenance for the hard scrabble homestead families who took the gamble to make our State what it is today.
Now that the birds are firmly established and have taken over the landscape, many of our fully guided guests actually get to take a step back in time each season as we hunt the very land and the very hallowed spot where it all began. Humbling experience. And helps put the whole concept of conservation into a historic context.
We’re fortunate to live in a region where the land continues to produce—not just in the form of corn and beans piling up across the prairie, but also in the benefits it provides to our wildlife. Thanks to modern farming and smart conservation planning, we’re seeing real, measurable gains. It’s a balancing act, but with good stewardship, it works.
Every year, we put more prairie wisdom and hard science to use—much of it guided by biologists and organizations like Pheasants Forever. Their partnerships with federal and state agencies have brought in grassroots funding and delivered truly impressive results.
Visit pheasantsforever.org to learn more. Not a member? Join. Already a member? Get more involved. Small efforts add up to big change.
Mother Nature Sets the Stage for a Legendary Season
Mother Nature has been smiling upon as well, as we had another “Brown Winter” with no snow accumulation or any sort of weather our birds could not easily just shrug off. Meaning, more birds up on the roads this Spring than I have personally ever witnessed and about everyone I have consulted with is echoing the same sightings. We have had 3 consecutively strong hatches, and this year looks to be the same.
The early Spring brought the Hen’s to the roads for a peek at the Rooster’s, well being Roosters. These posturing performances with a little jumping spur to spur flurry’s are our off-season entertainment. It was not long before relationships were consummated with Hen’s headed for nests. Leaving the lonely Roosters to patrol the roads.
I thought last year’s hatch was early. This year is incredible. The first week of May brought us flowers and much more. We are already seeing new broods of chicks bouncing around and knocking the hell out of a bug brunch. The vast majority of our young Rooster’s will be fully mature by season opener with plenty of Cagey Old Roosters as well. Timely planting should have the corn harvested on schedule. Thus, transitioning the birds into classic cover options and allowing us and our dogs easy access to the big flushes by early November.
A hasty hatch vastly increases the odds of survival. Timely rain kicked the insect hatch in gear to perfectly match our chick’s nutritional needs. Now up and tagging behind the Hen’s, they are out of danger of any quick downpours destroying nests. Thus, it is an easy prediction for having yet another banner fall hunting season. More memories made. Bonds cemented. Communities recharged, not just economically. But much more importantly, sharing our hunting traditions has become a truly spiritual experience.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to take it all in or share the experience with family, friends…you owe it to yourself and them. If you are fortunate enough to have children, grandchildren, or other young folks within your influence, in my opinion you should provide them with the exposure. I have personally witnessed countless “conversions” of otherwise shaggy, listless and phone focused kids after just an hour in the field. Not just ever errant teenage boys either. Lots of the gals are getting into it. Quite frankly, generally better shooters and just as or more tenacious than their male counterparts.