2023-01-23 03:45:42
Hunting & Fishing GET HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT REGULATIONS AT GFP.SD.GOV WITH ITS SPRAWLING PRAIRIE LANDS, LUSH FORESTS AND ABUNDANT RIVERS & LAKES, SOUTH DAKOTA IS THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR YEAR-ROUND HUNTING AND FISHING. THREE LOCALS SHARE SOME OF THEIR INSIDER TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A SUCCESSFUL EXCURSION IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS. PHEASANT HUNTING IN FALL AND WINTER South Dakota is world-renowned for its pheasant hunting, with the average annual harvest of more than 1 million roosters. Prepping for the hunt is quite possibly the most important step. Start by purchasing your hunting license and downloading the SDGFP app “Go Outdoors South Dakota.” I recommend getting a paper copy of the public land maps — it's free and available anywhere licenses are sold. We absolutely love hunting after it snows because the minute you step into the field, you’ll be able to see — or not see — pheasant tracks, which will give you immediate confidence in that hunting spot. Remember: be patient, persistent and flexible. Peruse the public hunting atlas to find the pieces of public land closest to you and determine how far you are willing to go to increase your chances of success. Being prepared with the right gear and knowledge, you’ll be one of those hunters contributing to our incredible harvest number. However, hunting is about so much more than the actual harvest. Experiencing our natural world as a participant and feeling an intimate connection to place? Priceless. Gear Recommendations: Hat, jacket for those cold days, durable pants, water-resistant boots and first aid kit. For the dogs, bring collars, protective vests and a jug of water. SPRING TURKEY TIPS Spring is simply the best time to hunt turkeys. We like to locate birds in the evening and set up on them the next morning in the dark. Walking creek bottoms on the prairies or in the Black Hills trying to locate birds can be very productive. I like to call every couple hundred yards and wait for 20 to 30 minutes. If nothing comes in, keep moving down the creek. Set up away from the roost tree (100 to 150 yards at a minimum) either sitting in a blind or with your back against a tree. When hunting out of a blind, you have more ability to move around undetected. We try to sit on the way to their morning feeding area or their normal travel pattern. I usually set up a couple hens and maybe a jake decoy. Once I hear the hens make their morning yelps, I then let out a few soft yelps with my mouth diaphragm call. This way, they know another hen is nearby. I often imitate a turkey fly down with a turkey wing that I will beat against my thigh. This will let them know another turkey has flown down not far away. Good luck to all of you in the spring. Gear Recommendations: Full camouflage with face mask, lightweight gloves, hat, bug spray, comfortable walking boots and a turkey vest to carry tools. YEAR-ROUND FISHING South Dakota is home to year-round fishing opportunities, ranging from the Missouri River reservoirs across the central part of the state, the Glacial Lakes region in the northeastern area and the streams of reservoirs within the Black Hills and western South Dakota. Walleye, the state fish, is often the star of the show. Anglers eager to get their boats in the water often enjoy open water fishing below Oahe Dam, Big Bend Dam and Fort Randall Dam. Walleyes will move into the upper end of these reservoirs in the springtime to spawn where they are often eager to bite for anglers fishing with jigs and minnows or trolling crankbaits across the main channel. Anglers who love ice fishing can strike gold in the northeast corner of the state, finding jumbo yellow perch. Walleye, of course, are also eager to bite an ice angler’s line, especially in the morning and evening hours, while perch can keep anglers busy on the ice throughout the entire day. Meanwhile, the streams of the Black Hills hold excellent numbers of trout. Anglers who love to fly-fish can enjoy the beauty of the area while wetting a line in numerous streams.
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