The Lazy J

Get the Gear

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Moving to South Dakota this time of year can be tough but once you’re done with the obvious like putting snow tires on your car and looking up clear internet service providers in your new area you’ve got to get out in the great wild wilderness here. Pheasant Hunting is a state pastime and you only need a few things to get started
Camouflage Gear: You’ll need some camo clothes to go unseen in the wild but don’t worry, it’s readily available in South Dakota! Conversely, be sure to invest in an orange vest so other hunters can see youit’s a safety thing.
Pheasant Call: You can pick one of these up in any outdoor sporting goods store and they’re indispensable for getting your prey to come to you. That’s the SD way.
New Rifle: If you’ve never hunted before you’re going to want to take some shooting lessons to get your aim down. Consider you’ll have to wait a few weeks before you can get your registered weapon so plan ahead before your first big trip out.

When Does Pheasant Hunting Start In South Dakota

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Pheasants Forever works to conserve land for future generations

www.thelazyj.com — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:39:43 +0000

Hunters and non-hunters alike can applaud the recent efforts of Pheasants Forever. The grassroots organization, which sets up local chapters to address wildlife concerns across the nation, is in the seventh year of its Farm Bill Biologist program. Through this program, local landowners (including those who provide habitat to pheasants and other game) are being educated about how they can improve conservation on their sites.PF employs seven Farm Bill Biologists in South Dakota, who have collectively contacted more than 13,000 landowners since 2003. The biologists evaluate the current state of the land, offer improvement suggestions, and recruit for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), one of the forerunners of modern conservation efforts. CRP was established by the Farm Bill of 1985 and is overseen by the USDA Farm Service Agency, tackling issues like erosion, groundwater usage, flooding, and more. By creating land cover on their sites, landowners can receive payments from the FSA.The Farm Bill Biologist program is currently active in 11 states. That’s good news for hunters who are worried about declining bird populations (as a result of vanishing habitat), and also for anyone who believes that it’s our responsibility to protect our natural resources for the future.

Pheasant Recipes

www.thelazyj.com — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:02:34 +0000

What does victory taste like to you? Find out with these selections of pheasant recipes, designed to tickle your taste buds and delight your senses. Make sure to store your pheasants properly so that you can enjoy these dishes for weeks to come after your hunt. Visit each dish’s respective site for the complete recipe.

Chili Pheasant: Bone several pheasant breasts and stuff them with chilies and jack cheese. Roll the breasts in butter and bread crumbs and bake. Finish off by spooning a spicy tomato sauce mixture over each item. This zesty pheasant concoction is sure to get your guests’ mouths watering. (Ultimate Pheasant Hunting)
Drunken Pheasant: Brush your bird with melted butter for flavor, and then grill it over a can of evaporating beer. The butter will seal in the flavor, locking in a taste so good it’s almost intoxicating. (Ultimate Pheasant Hunting)
Pheasant Breasts with Cider Vinegar, Apples and Pomegranates: In this offering from Food Network’s Mario Batali, cider vinegar, apples, and shallots provide a distinctive sauce for your baked pheasants. Pomegranate seeds complete the effect, mingling poultry and fruity flavors. (Food Network)
Pheasant Pate: Grind cooked pheasant in a meat grinder, and blend with some mayo, lemon juice, butter, onion, pepper sauce, and mustard, with salt and pepper to taste. Place the mixture in your desired mold and chill until serving. It’s a classy snack that goes well before a main course. (Pheasant Hunting Pages)
Pheasant and Cabbage Chowder: Jasper White provides this unique New England Chowder. The main ingredients are pheasant, of course, with carrots, onions, potatoes, cabbage, bacon, celery, and a variety of seasonings and garnishes. The result is a hearty chowder that’s a complete meal in itself. (Food Network)

South Dakota Hunting Lodges

www.thelazyj.com — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 06:36:02 +0000

South Dakota is one of the premier pheasant-hunting states in the nation. Lest you doubt its commitment, the state even made the ring-necked pheasant the state bird. Local hunters and visitors alike flock to the state’s many ranches and lodges when the season hits. We’ve assembled some of our favorites (in alphabetical orderno other ranking is intended):A1 Al’s Pheasant Ranch: A1 Al’s is located in Emery, less than an hour from Sioux Falls. Bring your dogs with you and enjoy the wide variety of hunting locales, including sorghum, sloughs, and prairie land. The lodge includes a rec room, poker table, and satellite TV for relaxing after the day’s activities.Buffalo Butte Ranch: Buffalo Butte is located in the South Dakota “Pheasant Triangle,” located between the towns of Gregory, Winner, and Chamberlain. It’s a family-owned and operated lodge with four generations of history. Before the hunt, you can practice at the complimentary clay trap shoot. The price also includes all processing and freezing of birds.Diamond A Ranch: A 3,000 acre ranch, the Diamond A can also be found within the South Dakota “Pheasant Triangle.” In addition to pheasant, their land is prime real estate for deer and turkey. Hot meals are included with each hunt.Granite Springs: Even if your family members don’t participate in the hunt, don’t leave them at home when you visit Granite Springs. Children and spouses stay and eat for free at this beautiful Alexandria location. Take your choice between guided and self-guided hunts, and experience a pure hunting experience.Thunderstik Lodge: Thunderstik was founded in 1988 and has only gotten better with age. Owned by Gage Outdoor Expeditions, the Lodge brings plenty of experience to every aspect of the hunting experience. Its close proximity to the Missouri River, Lake Francis Case, and Lake Sharpe means you can relax with some walleye fishing in between hunts.

Male or Female?

www.thelazyj.com — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 05:27:47 +0000

In South Dakota, the pheasant refers most often to the “Common Pheasant,” which were introduced in North America in 1857. The species is most closely related to the Green Pheasant of Japan. The Common Pheasant differs greatly between genders, and variations are even displayed between males of the same species due to past breeding practices. However, there are certain characteristics to indicate whether you’re tracking a rooster or a hen.Male:

24-35 inches in length
Color ranges from white to black (melanistic)
Long brown-colored tail with black streaks
Bright gold and brown plumage
Green, purple, and white markings
Green head with crest and wattle

Female:

20-25 inches in length
Brown plumage
Shorter tail
Young males may resemble females until 10 weeks of age

Choosing Your Bird Dog: Insert “Best Friend” Line Here

www.thelazyj.com — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:18:05 +0000

We know that the axiom has been run into the ground, but when it comes to pheasant hunting, there really is no better companion than a well-trained dog. Choosing your hunting dog can obviously involve a lot of personal taste, but there are some other factors to consider as well. For instance, the age-old debate between retrievers and pointers still rages on. It doesn’t have to be a battle, thoughthere are situations for everything.AAA South Dakota Pheasant Hunting states that the Labrador retriever is the dog of choice during pheasant season. These very social and intelligent animals are easy to train and love to be out in the field. They’re also very rugged, able to withstand the shifting weather of the South Dakota fall and winter seasons. In the event that a pheasant has buried within a snow mound, the retriever will dig its way in, flushing the bird out the other end.Besides Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are also popular picks. The Chesapeake Bay, in particular, has the ability to withstand low temperatures, and won’t let a little water keep it away from its quarry.Pointers work within a wider range, but are just as single-minded when it comes to tracking down the bird. German Shorthair and Brittany Spaniel breeds are popular picks, and transition well into house pets during the off-season. The thrill of watching a pointer sniff out its prize should be experienced by every pheasant hunter at least once. The “Bird Dog Breeds” page at Pheasants Forever offers an extensive list of all recommended breeds. If you’re still not sure which to go for, experiment with different dogs at lodges, and ask your (human) friends for advice as well.