South Dakota Duck and Goose Hunting Report Archive

Posted By:
John-Donelon
Field Editor

S.Dakota 12-03-2008 14:05
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Not having any Field editors does not help matters. I hunted two years in a row in the Webster area,got all the information I asked about and it saved me a lot of scouting and helped my gasoline bills.I found the majority of farmers I spoke with were really good people and did not run into any real problems in getting permission to hunt their land,on a few occassions I was not given permission,I understood,family used the ground,but both farmers thanked me for asking first.I don’t believe that residents don’t like out of state hunters and that is why no inforfmationis given,more information given by members means more for your local economy.Anyone from any of the states wanting information on hunting here in Missouri,just post it on the web page and I will do my best to get the information back.What hacks me off are the out of state hunters,just going right on the land to hunt without permission,this riles a lot of Missouri Farmers.

Posted By:
spirit
Web Member

12-02-2008 22:08
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south dakers hate out of state waterfowl hunters so they will not post. I was a member of a local waterfowl club until they sent my money back and refused membership based on where I lived.

Posted By:
PlatRvrJake
Web Member

12-02-2008 05:47
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does anybody even hunt in SD anymore or just too busy shooting ducks to report?

Posted By:
wbduckman
Web Member

11-18-2008 19:38
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Whacktherat,
Could’nt help but read and feel your pain.
Guides have completly destroyed Duck Hunting opportunities here in Arkansas.
Animal Rights Groups are not threatning Hunting. Guide and Outfitters are !
Canada is next !

Posted By:
whacktherat
Guest

Sand lake, Putney Slough, Scatterwood 11-17-2008 13:29
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted last week around Britton, Groton, Aberdeen down to Scatterwood. Some areas had good numbers of mallards and divers. Snow geese seemed to be most anywhere but SW of Aberdeen there were alot. Noticed on Saturday night a push of Snows leaving the scatterwood area but right about the time you think they were going south you would see some coming back North. If SD stays above freezing during the day hunting should still be good but you have to scout to find the sweet spot. The James River flowing south of 12 seemed to have snows sitting around it as they probably use the river system when things freeze hard for 2 consecutive days. I’m sure this is the tail end of migration but right about the time you think that you find another gaggle of mallards swarming corn fields. The pheasant hunting is really tough as walk in lands are pounded and the birds are getting out 200-300yds ahead. Stopped by many farmers places to ask for permission to hunt for pheasants and they said “would let you but leased it to guides”. Guides are getting $150.00 to $250.00 a day for guided pheasant hunts. Spoke to someone with the SD game and fish and he mentioned hunting pheasants is becoming the Kings hunt. I really hope they do something about the problem as I would really hate to see kids no longer being able to go and enjoy hunting pheasants. Not to many kids I know can afford $750.00 for a 3 day hunt and that does not include lodging, meals, transportation. Sorry, had to get that off my chest. It was another enjoyable waterfowl hunt in South Dakota but may just skip it next year as all the leased land has left a bad taste in my mouth. Shoot straight and be safe.

Posted By:
Dicky Duck
Web Member

central sd 11-10-2008 09:42
Cloudy, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
hunted 11-7 to 11-9- Did not see many ducks on the 7th, shot a few red heads. I scouted the rest of the day. There were groups of mallards on lake Thompson and holed up in small ponds with cover. Driving the back roads and scouting was a trick.
11-8 we set up in a east west pond with lots of shelter on the northwest end. The ice and snow had built up on the edge and I worked up a good sweat just getting my stuff through the cattails and snow.Divers and gadwells were dropping into the decoys as I was setting up and I had a lot of shots but wanted to wait for the mallards. by 10am I had my mallard and was cold and wet, time to get to the truck and some coffee.
11-9- I tried a deeper pond today. The dog and I had to break ice to set up the decoys ( thank God for my Avery dog stand, the old dog was about frozen ) We shot four mallard and missed a bunch but agian I was cold and wet, me and the dog had had enough.

I hope this is not the end but if the ice keeps building up I think that we puddle snipers will have to wait till next year. I hope to try some field shooting but without the time or connections to scout it may be a waste of time.

Posted By:
Dabble
Gold Sponsor

ne sd 11-09-2008 21:20
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I hunt over the border in mn, RU sure there are still alot of birds? I`ve been getting reports of the birds being blown out of the area. News to me. I drove through the area and didn`t see much. www.waterfowljunkie.com

Posted By:
whacktherat
Guest

ne south dakota 11-09-2008 19:37
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
not much time to talk but alot of birds in the area. Water is freezing but birds still around in force.

Posted By:
Straygator
Guest

Sully County, West Prarie, Sutton’s Bay 11-09-2008 17:42
Arctic Blast – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Hunted Nov 6-9, right before and during the blizzard

Nov 6, Ducks feeding in harvested corn field, weather was slowly deteriorating toward blizzard, set up on open water pond and limited out on Mallards, Bluebills and widgeon, SAW canvasback, pintail and redheads on the pond all day but as usual at the other end. Saw one flight of Canada geese and several flights of snows

Nov 7, blizzard conditions set up on the pot hole and shot 4 mallards, 2 geese, 2 bluebills but the number of birds seen dropped. Saw migrating snows in the late afternoon

Nov 8, Water was still open, went back, shot 2 ducks, did not see any thing after 8 am except migrating snows, Canada Geese and ducks at altitude, everything was heading south.
The Lake is open and that evening the feed bag was on as ducks and geese came out to feed, Plenty of corn available and lots of unharvested fields. Should be very good shooting this week

Finally got after the pheasants on Satuday and took our limit as the birds were huddled up in any cover they could find

Posted By:
spirit
Web Member

11-08-2008 20:25
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the NE game and park duck counter at the boat ramp said the boat duck kill average was 4 per boat, appx 1 duck per person.
Ducks are south. By the way the nr rules in ne will be diffrent next year.

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