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South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

Eastern SD 10-26-2010 13:05
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Alot of new birds in the area. We shot 2 man limits both saturday and sunday. only shot 4 teal the rest mallards and wood ducks. Saw a couple of nice flocks of widgeon come through on Sunday. Seen quite a few large flocks of mallards heading south. Things are starting to heat up around here. Hunting should be good the rest of the way out.

Posted By:
LTDHunting
Guest

None 10-25-2010 08:58
– – –
Lets go back to reporting on how the hunting is going on up there. I love to hear if birds are moving and if people are having any luck!

Posted By:
wilsonro
Guest

Migrants 10-22-2010 18:07
– – –
We’re talking about migratory waterfowl,not deer in Iowa. If the argument is “we should be able to hunt and control what we produce in SD “, then ask for a two week season early and hunt local birds like many states do with resident geese. I think we all know that’s not the case. It’s about closing out the competition of nonresidents and always has been. Little has changed since no nonresidents were allowed to hunt waterfowl many years ago.

These migratory rescources belong to us all and are controlled by federal law and agencies not SD. I blame them (the Feds) more for allowing it to happen than I do SD for trying to get away with the bogus nonresident program they have. No federal funds for anything stops it.

[Edited By wilsonro on 2010-10-28 00:05]

Posted By:
CRP
Web Member

10-20-2010 08:11
– – –
The limited draw is a win-win for all waterfowlers in SD. Good quality hunting… not a CIRCUS. SD has witnessed a busted system in North Dakota and has taken notes. SD has also seen what happens with the pheasant hunting. They have learned from it. Plenty of non-residents visit SD and have GREAT hunting every year.

Every state has their laws to protect wildlife and for good reason. I can’t hunt whitetails in Iowa or Elk in Montana or Colorado every year either. I pay for their programs also. But I’m not crying about it. I just apply and have a quality hunt.

Climate change has changed the traditional great waterfowling areas. It hurts SD too.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

South Dakota 10-19-2010 14:55
– – –
John I feel your pain. I grew in Iowa and still ahve many friends and family members that live there and want to hunt in SD but the cost/limited days/lottery make it difficult to hunt here, so I hunt Iowa alot to share a blind with some of my best hunting partners. BUT i will say that living in SD and seeing what commericalised hunting has done in the Pheasant hunting relm is unbelievable. It is very hard to find good hunting becuase all the farmers save their fields for paid hunters and the public land is overhunted becuase of this. I think permits need to be relaxed a little but not as much as other states.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

South Dakota 10-19-2010 11:26
– – –
To Crp,love your statement that your state protects it’s ducks with the number of non-resident permits that are issued.Your ducks are funded by everyone who buys a stamp,supports Federal Govt. programs,Ducks unlimited and Delta waterfowl.Hopefully some time in the future this local resident club for hunting ducks,increases their non-resident numbers,Been to your state twice,both times noticed a lot of land and no one hunting in large numbers.This issue of your permits needs to be addressed either by S. Dakota or the Fish and Wild Service,since every one hunting ducks pays for the ducks you call YOUR ducks.My last report on the S. Dakota situation.

Posted By:
tcsduck
Guest

Springfield, sd 10-19-2010 09:46
– – –
I see the corp allowed permit blinds again from santee to the lake. These guys that have those permits must know the laws. They do not have a 300yd exclusive area around there blind and they have to have a properly constructed blind with there number, name and where there from. A box in the water does not reserve a spot for a blind boat.

Posted By:
CRP
Web Member

South Dakota 10-19-2010 09:09
– – 60-65 Degrees
Decent number of ducks around but mostly the ones that nest and where raised here. Not much from the north yet. Haven’t had any decent migrating conditions. Lots of water around.
The state is swarming with non resident pheasant hunters. The big money has real hurt the resident hunter opprotunities. Thank the Lord SD protects its waterfowl a little with a limited draw.
Quality hunting for everyone.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

Eastern SD 09-29-2010 16:02
– – 60-65 Degrees
Had a nice hunt on Sunday. Shot 2 GW teals, 4 drake wood ducks, and 2 drake mallards.

Most of the morning was filled with wood ducks and shovelers. Very suprised that we only saw a couple of teal. Good number of geese have moved into the area over the last week.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

Western Iowa 09-21-2010 11:20
Cloudy, Rain & Thunderstorms – 60-65 Degrees
Hunted the Iowa opener Saturday-Monday. Saturday shot 10 teal and 2 woodies rained and thunderstormed most of the morning. Teal were flocked up in large numbers some flocks had 100+.. Sunday the ducks were scattered only scrached out 11 with four guys teal went from 100+ to groups of 5-10. Monday we hunted a couple of different spots with a mixed bag of 11 teal 4 wood ducks a mallard. Birds decoyed very well but really shut off after 8am. Should be a interesting opener this weekend I think alot of the early teal have made their way down south.

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

09-17-2010 15:22
– – –
Went to four marshes that usually hold a good number of birds amd pnly saw a few groups of teal on each lake. Alot of water up this way and the birds are really spread out! It may be tough the first couple of weeks until the water level starts to lower. Geese are really starting to group up, quite a few flocks around should be good hunting this weekend! Going to Iowa for the duck opener there will report after the weekend.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

08-19-2010 12:11
– – –
MIxed bag of results reported on the resident canada goose season. If you were on grounds that held alot of birds most people filled their bag. All in all most parties seemed to do very well.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

08-06-2010 13:13
– – –
With the season just around the corner I have started to scout some of the ponds and lakes that I use. Water has entrenched most areas that we put our blinds in years past. Things might be interesting for the first couple of weeks! Everyone is going to have to scout much harder with all the standing water that we have in nearly every field in South Dakota!

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

07-23-2010 15:49
– – –
Had to stop in the middle of the second busiest road (and almost was rear-ended)in Sioux Falls this morning to let a momma hen and her 8 ducklings cross the road.

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 07-22-2010 14:32
– – –
Here in the Mitchell area we received 4 inches of rain last night in alittle over an hour. Enough rain already, everything is flooded. I have been out a few times when it hasn’t been raining and we have water an ducks everywhere. Drove down a county road west of town with water on both side of the road and there were hundreds of ducks and ducklings. There were so many ducks in fact there were quite a few road kills. I had to slow down and stop so they could get off the road. North of town it is the same every low spot seems to have water and ducks in it. It is going to take alot of scouting this fall to stay on the ducks

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE south dakota 06-13-2010 10:13
– – –
It has been raining pretty much non stop since the first of June. Here in Mitchell we have had 7 inches so far and it is only the 13th of the month. If every duck pond wasn’t full, they are now. Last night the 12th Interstate 90 was closed west of town because water was running over the top of the interstate. Never seen that before. My only concern with all this water is how many nest it flooded out. I think the geese were just abount done nesting but I wonder if the ducks and pheasants won’t take a hit.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

Sioux Falls 04-29-2010 14:34
– – –
Started seeing the first hatches of the season. Always a fun time of year.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

South East SD 03-23-2010 16:34
– – –
Saturday- set up in south eastern SD down by the iowa/SD border. 400 rags and 4 guys only had 1 Ross goose break from a pack and commit. Saw a few flocks but not what we expected.

Sunday- spent the afternoon in the same field only saw 1 flock of about 75 snows.

I think the push is past us…

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

03-19-2010 09:50
– – –
We had a couple of guys set up 300 decoys in a field just east of the missouri last night inbetween Sioux City and Elk Point. We plan on hunting this weekend. Report was a couple of 50-100 flocks were in the air during set up.

Posted By:
jefbet03
Field Editor

03-17-2010 07:30
– – –
How are the numbers looking for you guys up there? Hopefully you get some smaller, more workable flocks then what we did.

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

South Dakota 02-11-2010 14:28
– – –
Mike-Gorsett
Welcome aboard.Look forward to your posts next season,as well as nesting conditions in your state.Glad they finally got a VFE in your state.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

South Dakota 02-11-2010 14:28
– – –
Mike-Gorsett
Welcome aboard.Look forward to your posts next season,as well as nesting conditions in your state.Glad they finally got a VFE in your state.

Posted By:
Mike-Gorsett
Field Editor

Eastern SD 01-29-2010 13:30
– – –
I have finally figured out the new password and log in, I will do my best to keep the waterfowler.com nation up to speed on what is happening in South Dakota.

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

01-08-2010 12:13
– – –
The last blizzard just past, the second strom since christmas. Have not seen this much snow on the ground since the 70’s. The entire state got a blanket of 15 inches on christmas some ares got more then that. In my back yard there is at least 2 feet with some higher drifts. We had a wet fall so I would predict excellent runoff this spring possibly alot of flooding as lot of the ponds and sloughs were already full. I think our pheasants are going to really take a hit this winter.

Posted By:
PlatRvrJake
Web Member

12-19-2009 02:04
– – –
anybody hunt up there? No posts since 11-28?
Great reporting!

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 11-28-2009 17:57
– – –
We have really been in the mallards lately. Had a 3 man limit this morning by 8:45 plus a giant honker. There is also alot of Canadas around. The mallards this morning were what you wait all year for. Large flocks that would come right in, even got some video of it. It looks like about Wednesday the slough hunting will be done, The weather is forcast to turn cold but no snow. Been a strange year, the mallards would be here one day gone the next.

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 11-22-2009 13:38
– – –
Quite a morning. There were ducks and geese moving all morning. Alot of mallards and snows and honkers high and flying south. The mallard that would work came right in after alittle calling. The most mallards I have seen all year. Thanksgiving weekend should be good.

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 11-07-2009 11:20
– – –
Hunted the Thursday and Friday with poor results. Did not see many birds hunting the sloughs and wetland we had good results on in the past. Decided to start driving around to see if there are any ducks in the area. Boy have we been hunting the wrong spots. We have alot of ducks in the area but they all are sitting in the small little wet spot all the rain has left. Found a nice bunch of mallards in a flooded corn field watched them Friday night and this morning and finally got permission from the farm for tomorrow.This should be a slam dunk. I’m jacked.

Posted By:
steveandzoom
Guest

NE South Dakpta 11-05-2009 20:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Water, water, everywhere…..

Hunted in NE counties for a week. My traditional area (for the past 13 years) was nearly void of birds. A few bluebills and ringbills were scattered about, but very few except for the rafts of wary divers in the middle of some very large lakes. Seems like some boats have spooked those birds a time or two. No mallards, gadwell, widegon or teal of any consequence. I scouted for a couple of days and drove hundreds of miles before I located flock after flock of mallards, pintails, and other species. These birds were concentrated in flocks ranging from 500 to 5,000 birds. Unbelievable. I have never seen so many pintails in my life, and I go back a long way; wonderfully mature birds. I also saw ten of thousands of snows and blues.

Since my modest decoy spread (I typically use up to 13 decoys) could not begin to compete with the tens of thousands of mallards, I hunted smaller water and did very well. I finished my hunt with a mixed bag, but the real highlight was witnessing flocks of 1,000-5,000 mallards and pintails almost everywhere I drove. Pheasants were obviously way down.

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

11-05-2009 14:38
– – –
Hunted a small farm pond last night south of Sioux Falls. Saw 2 flocks of mallards both circled 2-3 times and neither liked the spread enough, also had a nice flock of widgeons 20-30 that buzzed the spread but i was to busy talking on my cell phone to take a shot… I have made a new rule and that is no cell phones in the blind.

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
Hot Sauce
Guest

Central South Dakota 11-01-2009 14:07
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted all last week in the central part of the state. We did very well with a mix bag of Mallards, Teal, Wigeon,Redheads, Gaddies, Etc.

You still need to do your scouting. The birds aren’t everywhere but if you do your work, limits are the norm.

Poor Pheasant hunting, near 100% of the crops are still in the fields. Many places were under water.

Good hunting everyone

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

se south dakota 10-31-2009 20:03
– – –
Well the specks and snows were on the move today. Made for a exciting first hour of hunting. Had a couple of bunches of specks work us with no kills but it was fun to see the specklebellies. End up will 4 drake mallards and a big canada goose, “local”
Also saw a set of 4 swans. Did not see many new ducks but have to think some would have to go down after the weather we had the last couple of days. The fields are nothing but mud and I did not see any field work being done. the weather this next week calls for upper 50’s lows in the 30’s and NO RAIN, we have had enough of that.Going to try a new spot in the morning. Will report later. Good luck.

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

SE SDAK 10-26-2009 20:51
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Had a good shoot again this am. Definite signs of calendar birds migrating today as I found 20-30 flocks of Specs heading south. Also saw the first flock of snows of the fall.

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

SE SDAK 10-25-2009 18:40
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 45-50 Degrees
Birds are pretty conditioned and in a routine, hence we could use some fresh birds. It appears for the most part that the bwt and woodies have left. Still good numbers of local mallards, pintail and gadwall around. Also found a couple small flocks of specs. All in all good days hunt but without new birds the days will continue to get harder.

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

SE Sdak 10-23-2009 21:26
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted Thursday and Friday. Decent birds around, mostly mallards, gadwall and some divers. Seems very evident that the birds that are in the area are comfortable and have a routine down. Decent shoots but would be great to get some fresh birds.

Posted By:
birdk9
Web Member

Watertown – Webster – Private Ground 10-21-2009 19:52
– – 40-45 Degrees
As of Monday PM no ice or cold weather to speak of.

Hunted Saturday and Sunday before pheasant LST. Saturday the guide had us on the down wind side of the pond. Tough going. We did manage to drop six ducks and four honks to bring home.

Sunday had a great Pass Shoot. The guide did much better on pond selection. We hunted an old washed out and flooded road bed that had grown over with weeds and tall grass. Water on both sides of the road bed that opened up into larger ponds. This little 50 yard strech was like hunting the center of an hour glass. The boys had directions: DO NOT put down a loaded gun. Keep pulling the trigger until they are dead on the water. Only two birds made it through the gauntlet. After one hour, three boxes of shells and 15 ducks later, we called it a day and went to breakfast and pheasant hunting. Great start to what would be a blue bird day. By the way, we did not loose a single duck as a cripple.

Lots of ducks in the area. Still in small flocks, less than 18. Lots of sheet water has the birds scattered. Rains have 90 percent of the crop still in and the birds are resting in every piece of sheet water inside the crops. Normal pond hunting is tough.

Posted By:
TFDCAlpe
Guest

Arkansas 10-21-2009 17:49
– – –
So are the ducks movin through dakota like they are sayin? Yall got ice on the ground??

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

10-19-2009 11:59
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 45-50 Degrees
Hunted Sat morning with mixed results. Did not see a malard all morning. Shot 8 total 4 teal, 2 gadwall, 2 wood ducks. Saw quite a few shovelers out as well.

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 10-18-2009 19:34
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 50-60 Degrees
Hunted Saturday and Sunday with mixed results. Saturday saw quiet a few ducks and some large flocks of canadas, local giants, ended up with 5 drake mallards and missed a flock of those giants that circled us twice. What can I say it was just one of those days. Sunday went to a different lake and could not believe all of the gadwalls and wiegon. From about 9 to 9:30 it was no stop. Flock after flock it was really something to see. We did not see many mallards.

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

NE SD 10-12-2009 09:23
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted Sat morning 5 total birds 1 drake mallard 3 widgeon and a gw teal. 10-20 groups of specklebellies heard flying high overhead all morning. Was not as many mallards as I thougth might be around but alot of gadwalls spoonies and widgeon. we have about 2 inches of snow on the ground so will give it a shot tonight.

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 10-10-2009 16:57
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted this morning not know what to expect.
It snowed, no it was a blizzard at the Friday night high school football game.
24 degrees this morning and 30mph winds.
Saw a few flocks of specklebellies, saw 2 snow geese and got both, only snows we saw and cranes. Not as many mallards as the past weeks but lots of wigeons, gadwalls and gw teal. With the geese we saw I would think there would be a few new ducks coming down. Lows tonight in the teens to low 20’s highs sunday upper 30’s. End of the week calling for highs in the 50’s low in the 30’s. Migration starting???

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

NE SD 10-08-2009 16:15
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted this AM shooting 2 mallards and 2 blue wing teal. Alot of new geese in the area saw 7-10 large flocks of geese heading south. Weather man calling for snow friday night into saturday morning. Let the migration begin!

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

10-06-2009 18:56
– – –
Going to try it in the morning. Going to be the only day this week that the forcast doesn’t call for rain. The weekend calls for lows in the 20’s high in the 40’s. It better warm up or the season could be over by halloween

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

10-03-2009 15:36
– – –
Had to go to Madison SD this morning to watch my son play football. Left Mitchell at 8:45 to get to Madison by 10:00. By the time we reach HWY 34 there were ducks and geese everywhere. Now I know it is only the first of October,I can’t beleive these are migrating waterfowl but one little stock dam was cover black with ducks. I just think we raised alot of ducks this summer

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

NE SD 10-02-2009 10:18
Cloudy, Light Rain & Drizzle – 50-60 Degrees
Scouted South of Sioux Falls last night and witnessed a lot of new birds in the area. Mostly big birds as we only saw one flock of teal working the marsh.

Posted By:
webmaster
root

09-30-2009 14:30
– – –
Lesser Canada Geese have begun to arrive MN, WI, IA and IL.

Any activity in the Central Flyway?

Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor

09-30-2009 08:40
– – –
CDuk: I am truly sorry if you feel that way b/c your cat pee peed in your Golden Grahams this morning. It is not for my benefit, trust me. I do what I do here to help others out, not myself. Season is starting,,,people like (need) to know what birds are moving and the direcitons they are headed. I do not need “your birds”….others do though that are states directly below you. Good luck this year,,,

Ant

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

se 09-30-2009 05:14
– – –
Cduk,how ya been? Will be going by yer town in 2 weeks. I can’t wait.

Posted By:
CDuklet
Web Member

SD 09-29-2009 20:04
– – –
Honestly, I hadn’t paid attention to where you are from and your tone will get you very few responses to your request.

Duke

Posted By:
MarshMan1
Guest

SE South Dakota 09-28-2009 15:21
– – –
Had a wonderful opening weekend. Did not shoot limits, had 5 guys in the boat 2 14 yr olds and a 12 year old, me the the 14yr olds Dad, The young boys had alot of shooting and I think 3 duck hunters were born. What impressed me the most was the amount of ducks. I have never seen this many local birds. Not even in the wet 90s. The first couple of hours it was non-stop. If we get any type of migration this should be a great year.

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

SE Sdak 09-28-2009 12:19
Cloudy, High Winds – 45-50 Degrees
Scouted the day with the coldfront to see what it looks like. Most of the BWT have appeared to have left during the middle of the night as well as the woodies, and this am watched a lot of birds moving into the area. First day to see good numbers of pintails, widgeon and gadwalls.

Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor

09-28-2009 08:10
– – –
Cduklet: In case ya haven’t noticed,,,,myself as well as a lot of others are are couple thousand miles away from “Your State”….I have no interest in the hunting there, don’t have the time for it… reports and migration movements is what people are looking for. That’s what this site was created for..I can gauge a lot of things in Ohio from what I hear about the birds and weather coming from the West and Northwest.

Oh,,,in case you were wondering then,,,we have had a good hatch of local mallards,wooducks and gadwalls in NW Ohio. The season here looks like it could be very good. Birds are starting to move and some even trickled down from the north already.

[Edited By Anthony-Santoli on 2009-09-28 07:43]

Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor

09-28-2009 07:41
– – –
Cduklet: In case ya haven’t noticed,,,,myself as well as a lot of others are are couple thousand miles away from “Your State”….I have no interest in the hunting there, don’t have the time for it… reports and migration movements is what people are looking for. That’s what this site was created for..I can gauge a lot of things in Ohio from what I hear about the birds and weather comning from the West and Northwest.

Oh,,,in case you were wondering then,,,we have had a good hatch of local mallards,wooducks and gadwalls in NW Ohio. The season here looks like it could be very good. Birds are starting to move and some even trickled down from the north already.

[Edited By Anthony-Santoli on 2009-09-28 07:43]

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

SE SDAK 09-27-2009 14:29
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Got out before the winds started to bring in the first coldfront of the year. Had good success with limits taken. It looked like a small group of honkers were ahead of the winds to move into the area. Good numbers of mallards, woodies and teal. With all the local birds in the area it should be a good fall for when the birds do start to move south.

Posted By:
CDuklet
Web Member

SD 09-27-2009 11:45
– – –
You will find that South Dakotan’s are very private. If you get someone, anyone to give you information you need to reciprocate that relationship with what you know and with your thanks. The expectation is that relationship will be two ways and not end once you know what you wanted to know.

Duke

Posted By:
cbeason
Guest

SE Sdak 09-26-2009 12:45
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 60-65 Degrees
Found a good marsh holding a few thousand birds, a buddy of mine and myself killed our limit of mallards and two woodies in about 35 minutes. There seems to be a lot of local birds in the area with the majortity of the birds being mallards.

Posted By:
Terry Wiseman
Guest

09-25-2009 21:13
– – –
I’ll tell ya when I get back. Word is Canada is hot and not many birds.

Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor

09-24-2009 07:57
– – –
JD: I couldn’t agree more. Same goes for Canada. These are the starting places for all of our ducks and geese and no one seems to give a darn to report on any movements whatsoever.

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

South Dakota 09-23-2009 13:59
– – –
One of best hunting areas and breeding areas in the lower states and only reports are those non-residents hunting in South Dakota. Says a lot about the members(if there are any) in South Dakota to at least post once a week to let the rest of us know what is happening in your state such as birds on the move south.

Posted By:
slough pumper
Guest

NE SD 09-11-2009 13:30
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
We came home w/ 47 honkers in 3 days of hunting. Our group varied from 3-5 guys.

When we finally found the “X” fields we slammed them and got bruised shoulders in camo T’s.

Overall tons of fun no doubt. It would have been plenty of fun w/ not limits, but that just added to the good times w/ good buddies.

I personally put over 1200 mile on since I live about 200 miles away and figure why go that far and not scout hard. We had more field taken that I thought would be for this time of year for geese (not pheasants or deer).

Thanks to our ability to research, meet, and be nothing but respectful and polite, we were able to make contact w/ some AWESOME landowners/farmers, some of which allowed us to hunt their land.

One local farmer and his 12 year old son met us the last day for and incredible shoot!! His name was Luke,and if your reading this buddy, it was a pleasure hunting w/ you. We slammed 25 honkers for 5 guys in about 25 minutes. We times some of our bird/hunter pictures with the incoming geese in the background. Pretty fun.

One word of advice to fellow out of staters. Why do you folks insist on pissing the local guys off and busting all the roosts. Like one farmer said, “We’d have good goose hunting all of September, but there’s always one Ja*& A$$ that thinks he’s the most important one and needs to go “Scout” across the marsh w/ his motor boat and shag tons on ducks/geese off and out of their normal patterns!!!”

To the Jack Lemmon look-a-like from Appleton who did nothing but hunt water and ruin 3 roosts w/in 3 days, thanks alot! We had boats and would have hunted water if we needed to, but decided it was worth the work to find Wheat to hunt instead.

When I talked to you, you had just arrived Friday afternoon and thought you needed to check the depth of the lake (couldn’t tell from the road I guess) and putz around the roost of over 600 birds, driving them w/ thousands of ducks over 2 miles north to different water and creating cruddy wheatfield hunts for 3 groups in the area!!

Then if that wasn’t enough, you didn’t even hunt it! Rather, you elected to go to a smaller roost pond holding over 300 geese, drive illegally between standing corn and beans (on privately owned grass, not easement) accross land we asked 3 landowners to obtain permission on and ruin a spot we were saving to the end of the weekend if we needed.

Granted the second spot was Federal Production Area and you have full rights to hunt, if you walked a half mile a didn’t cross private land w/o permission to sneak in the back door, but NOT:
– by tresspassing w/o easement
– parking on non motorized grasslands
– and using an outboard motor on a wetland fully surrounded by federal WPA….

– and why would you launch into a roost in the dark after shagging the geese out w/ your headlights/truck? and not wait until the geese go to feed and kill them in small flocks coming back into water??? If you are going to do a roost, at least kill a few birds…

Your type gives us nonresidents all a bad name. My dad’s as old as you are, but he still tries to do it the “right” way.

One selfish buy hunting by himself can screw up tons of other guys hunts…

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
sdoll3
Guest

watertown 09-10-2009 23:18
– – –
Hunted last we end with some friends – Had a great time, early season Geese! 7 guys 35 geese sat ansd sun!

Posted By:
Iowaduckkiller
Guest

Groton area 09-09-2009 07:57
– – –
Just back from hunting geese in the Groton, SoDak area just east of Aberdeen. Our group stayed at the Coteau View Lodge over the weekend and we shot 94 geese in three days. We had 7 guys hunting and shot 35 on Saturday, 34 on Sunday and 25 on Monday. The guys at Coteau View were awesome and the lodge was great. Looking forward to next year. Check out their website at http://www.coteauviewhunts.com/ I will post a picture on the grip and grin page.

[Edited By Iowaduckkiller on 2009-09-09 07:59]

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

SD 09-02-2009 09:44
– – –
Its been over a week and still no response from waterfowler on field reporter status. I guess they dont want people field reporters anymore!

Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor

09-02-2009 08:40
– – –
ml…..who gives a rats arse what a computer shows your status as…. post up and be a reporter…

AS

Posted By:
Mike-Loecker
Guest

08-30-2009 19:23
– – –
I was a field reporter for SD and posted every week for a long time. The administration of this program is poor at best. They had and continued to have field reporters on this site with free access that did not post but 2 times a year. When my yearly renewal was up, I renewed and the log in showed me back to a member and I sent several messages back asking why the status did not show me as a field reporter. You field reporters from NE, you know me and my reports. This could be a great site to help out all waterfowlers; but the admin sucks and no one cares, they just want your money. Sad, but true. Good luck in the opener this year boys!

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

South Dakota 08-28-2009 16:37
– – –
Tlimoges
I sent your information on to the Field Editor,have their web site. Let me know when you hear from them.Hope they get you in,best of luck with your season,loved my trip to Webster a few years ago.

Posted By:
Drew Goaley
Guest

tlimoges 08-27-2009 07:26
– – –
tlimoges:

Have you gone the to “Field Reporter” section? I emailed them from there. I started last year. I sent them an email and they were very quick to get back to me. I would send them another email. Let me know if I can be of any help!

Posted By:
tlimoges
Guest

08-26-2009 10:00
– – –
What is the process to be a Field Reporter? I live in SD and my hunting partner in IA, we have both applied to be Field Reporters and neither of us have ever head anything back from Waterfowler…

Posted By:
Seeds
Web Member

08-21-2009 16:35
– – –
For SD info see Illinois post dated 8/15/2009

Posted By:
Anthony-Santoli
Field Editor

08-20-2009 12:16
– – –
Anyone,,,,,Beuhler,,,,,Beuhler…Frye..Frye.

NO ONE DUCK HUNTS IN SD ANYMORE OR WHAT???? YOU GUYS ARE SURE BIG HELPS TO THE REST OF THE USA THAT RELIES ON NORTHERN STATES REPORTS…. with the duck numbers the way they are…. there should be little posts going up left and right ….

South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

South Dakota 06-26-2009 15:07
– – –
It is hard to believe that your state does not have one VFE(Volunteer Field Editor)Why doesn’t someone step up to the plate.Your state is one of prime interest to waterfowlers,with no information,seems to me it will cut back on non-residents,unless that is why no VFE.

Posted By:
faue
Guest

battle creek nebraska 03-17-2009 16:11
Cloudy, High Winds – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Got back from Battle Creek Nebraska on the 13th. There were birds all over. Shot 130 in 4 1/2 days. Weather was warming up when I left. Should be in South Dakota anytime.

Posted By:
pufofethers
Web Member

03-13-2009 17:37
– – –
does anyone know how far south of the south dakota border the majority of the geese are held up at and if they are moving north?

Posted By:
DU870
Web Member

03-09-2009 14:46
– – –
I keep seeing snow falling in SD on the news. How much snow do yo guys have on the ground out there around the Mitchell area?

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

Squaw Creek Natl. Waterfowl Refuge 02-16-2009 14:35
– – –
For those that might be interested,offical count on snow geese at the Squaw Creek Natl. Waterfowl Refuge near Mound City Mo. near Iowa and Nebr. border,located in NW Mo.As of today,offical count 617,350.Snow in Souther Iowa and in Nebr. may have slowed their progress North,but they are on their way.

Posted By:
double clucker
Guest

12-16-2008 10:43
– – –
Art, I talked to some buddies that were up in SD pheasant hunting last weekend and said there are ducks and geese by the thousands from Winner to Peire.

Posted By:
Qwack Addict
Guest

Eastern SD 12-15-2008 16:25
– – –
I have not been hunting in SD, but I have been seeing a lot of ducks and geese in cornfields and anywhere there is open water.

I know some friends of mine hunt out near Pierre and they have been doing really well.

Don’t know if that helps, but that is all I know.

Posted By:
Art-Marshall
Field Editor

Nebraska 12-13-2008 20:26
– – –
How about a report guys? Are you getting some nasty weather? Are the birds suffering.?

Posted By:
whacktherat
Guest

South Dakota 12-05-2008 16:05
– – –
I agree about the farmers being open to letting Non residents hunt, they were very open to letting you go out and hunt ducks and geese. That is of course if the guides didn’t have the pieced locked up for King hunts for ducks, geese or pheasants. It would be nice if south dakota allowed more non residents but if they did it would just create more land locked up for guides to charge for hunts. Every state should limit the amount of guides to be licensed in each state. Each permit would only allow a guide to lock up so much land and if they break the law they pull the license for 5 years. I hate to be down on someone making a living but when it comes down to $250.00 a day that will make hunting only a rich man’s sport and I don’t believe they should do that to us nor our children that want to enjoy hunting. I wonder how people would feel if they came to minnesota for fishing and you can fish but if you go deeper than 5 feet of water you need to have a guide take you and pay $250.00 a day because the guides get the best fishing spots.

Posted By:
Doug-Miller
Field Editor

12-04-2008 06:38
– – –
I am with John on this one.
I hunted South Dakota a couple weeks ago. Finding the land owner was tough but once a person takes the time to do their homework hunting was easy.
I think the greatest challange for South Dakota is the lack of hunters. With a very limited number of NR and a lower state population you don’t have the hunters to report.
Believe me if they would ever open up their NR numbers their would be reports.

Its all about Ducks, Dogs, and Kids