The Lazy J

Hunting pheasants in South Dakota is an important occasion for those who like to hunt and those who eat pheasant. The season starts on the third Saturday of each October and lasts until the end of the year, closing on January 1. The hours for hunting pheasant run from noon to sunset during the first week of hunting season and thereafter, from 10 a.m until dusk.

South Dakota has some of the best pheasant hunting in the country. According to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, the South Dakota harvest has been equal to or over 1 million birds per year. The Soil Bank and Conservation Reserve Program in the state set aside land to foster pheasants beginning in 1965, which has contributed to an abundant pheasant population.

Although the birds are plentiful, the state restricts an individual hunter to three roosters per day, for a total of 15 for a five-day hunting period. The east and central regions of South Dakota have the highest pheasant population. Hunters have a choice of hunting on public lands or on private ranches in the state that may provide guides and other guest services. If you’re a pheasant hunter and want to take advantage of the bounty South Dakota has to offer, consider making reservations for the private ranch hunting ahead of time. It does get crowded.

Brown County had the highest number of birds harvested in 2010, where hunters took over 127,000 birds, followed by Spink County, with a harvest of 109,000 birds. While hunters benefit from the enjoyment of the sport, residents and the state of South Dakota reap the harvest as well. In eight counties in South Dakota, the pheasant hunting season brings over eight million dollars to each of the counties. Together, pheasant hunting brought over 30 million dollars to both Brown and Spink Counties in 2010, making pheasant hunting in South Dakota a win-win situation for residents and hunters.