Hunting is important to South Dakota. This is especially true of SD pheasant hunting, which attracts people from all over the country every year. People use Opening Day as an excuse to get together with family and friends, making it a social highlight of the year. Management efforts to make conditions ideal for pheasants benefit other wildlife as well, keep rural lands open, and involve the whole community in maintenance of the official state bird.
Anyone who actually wants to stalk the birds needs a small game license, which can be obtained by both residents and nonresidents. A license gives the holder the right to hunt pheasants for two five-day periods. The daily limit is five male birds (hens are protected), and the annual limit is fifteen. Hunters need to specify the dates of their hunts beforehand, which enables them to be spread out over the season. This is further protection for the bird population.
Pheasant shooting isn't allowed on refuges and game preserves, but there's an abundance of public and private land that's open to all. The annual harvest has been over a million birds in recent years. Careful monitoring of the population and the state of the habitat is done by wildlife experts to keep hunting in balance with the bird population. Landowners who love the sport and realize its importance help by providing habitat and targeted plantings of food crops.
Proper habitat is the most pressing need, which many landowners are happy to provide. Pheasants prefer lots of cover for protection from predators, which are a greater threat than weather. They like idle fields, native grasslands, brush, and cattail marshes. Peak populations were recorded in years when much farm land was fallow: during the Great Depression, the second World War, and periods when farmers were paid not to plant under government programs. Drought poses a real problem, but the severe winters of SD don't negatively impact birds that have adequate cover.
The birds are relatively short-lived because of predators more than climactic conditions. Winter snows, which otherwise don't bother the birds to any great extent, make them more vulnerable to foxes, coyotes, and other animals which prey on them. Landowners are encouraged to plant plots of corn and sorghum near winter cover to help sustain the birds over the winter.
Both Ring-necked and Golden pheasants were introduced in the late 1800s but failed to naturalize. Later and more successful attempts were negated by unrestricted hunting. However, with today's regulations, the Ring-neck population is self-sustaining, needing neither trapping to disperse the birds or supplementation by birds raised in protective captivity. Wildlife authorities estimate a population of over 10 million Ring-necks.
In 2008, more than 76,000 residents obtained licenses to hunt, while over 100,000 hunters came from all 50 states. The season starts in October, and many make an annual pilgrimage for sport, outdoor adventures, and social gatherings. The season contributes more than two hundred million dollars to local and state economies.
For fun, sport, and congenial fellowship, come see why so many flock to South Dakota for pheasant hunting season. Opening Day is in October, a great time to visit the Mount Rushmore State.
Anyone who actually wants to stalk the birds needs a small game license, which can be obtained by both residents and nonresidents. A license gives the holder the right to hunt pheasants for two five-day periods. The daily limit is five male birds (hens are protected), and the annual limit is fifteen. Hunters need to specify the dates of their hunts beforehand, which enables them to be spread out over the season. This is further protection for the bird population.
Pheasant shooting isn't allowed on refuges and game preserves, but there's an abundance of public and private land that's open to all. The annual harvest has been over a million birds in recent years. Careful monitoring of the population and the state of the habitat is done by wildlife experts to keep hunting in balance with the bird population. Landowners who love the sport and realize its importance help by providing habitat and targeted plantings of food crops.
Proper habitat is the most pressing need, which many landowners are happy to provide. Pheasants prefer lots of cover for protection from predators, which are a greater threat than weather. They like idle fields, native grasslands, brush, and cattail marshes. Peak populations were recorded in years when much farm land was fallow: during the Great Depression, the second World War, and periods when farmers were paid not to plant under government programs. Drought poses a real problem, but the severe winters of SD don't negatively impact birds that have adequate cover.
The birds are relatively short-lived because of predators more than climactic conditions. Winter snows, which otherwise don't bother the birds to any great extent, make them more vulnerable to foxes, coyotes, and other animals which prey on them. Landowners are encouraged to plant plots of corn and sorghum near winter cover to help sustain the birds over the winter.
Both Ring-necked and Golden pheasants were introduced in the late 1800s but failed to naturalize. Later and more successful attempts were negated by unrestricted hunting. However, with today's regulations, the Ring-neck population is self-sustaining, needing neither trapping to disperse the birds or supplementation by birds raised in protective captivity. Wildlife authorities estimate a population of over 10 million Ring-necks.
In 2008, more than 76,000 residents obtained licenses to hunt, while over 100,000 hunters came from all 50 states. The season starts in October, and many make an annual pilgrimage for sport, outdoor adventures, and social gatherings. The season contributes more than two hundred million dollars to local and state economies.
For fun, sport, and congenial fellowship, come see why so many flock to South Dakota for pheasant hunting season. Opening Day is in October, a great time to visit the Mount Rushmore State.
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