Heading for South Dakota!

[BLACKJACK]

I'm heading for South Dakota! I'm heading for South Dakota!I'm heading for South Dakota! Thats all I've been able to think about the last couple of days as I struggle thru problems at work! By this time tomorrow we should be on the outskirts of Aberdeen. We were out on the opener and there were lots of birds and lots of crops still in the field, by now the crops should be out and I'm expecting to see a ton of birds. I'm pumped! Hunt pheas all day, drink beer, play cribbage, and talk smart half the night and then turn around and do it again! Life is good!

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

I SHOULD BE JUST AHEAD OF YOU. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OFF THIS AFTERNOON. WHERE WILL YOU BE STAYING? IF YOU SEE A MAROON F-350 DIESEL THAT SAYS "TRIPLE K CONSTRUCTION" THAT WILL BE US. WE'LL SAVE A COUPLE FOR YOU

[rundrave]

good luck guys, still alot of birds around. Looks like this weekend should see a bit of a warm up. Not sure what this last string of weather(cold and snow) has done to the birds.

again good luck and let us know how you do.

[Mike Walerak]

Good Luck there has still been reports of excellent bird numbers in that area.

Watch out for a blonde holding a 30-06 as my wife will be in the Ipswitch area deer hunting with me. Best not get in her way.

mw

[Rost]

A blond holding a 30-06???? That's kinda sexy and scary at the same time! Good luck out there Mike!

[Tyler Holm]

Good luck boys. The Ipswitch area is nothing short of an awesome haven for hunting. Hope Aberdeen treats you right.

[Rost]

Hey Tyler-

How have you been? Are the geese in the Rodchester area yet?

[Tyler Holm]

Rost,

We've got geese, yes. I really havn't had the opportunity to chase them around as much as I'd like to. I've been out ouce and bagged 1 honker. Fishing has been satisifying for the most part.

I suppose you've been tearing up the waterfowl? How's the season going?

[BLACKJACK]

Finally getting back after hunting So Dak Nov 18-22. Hunting was great again! The difference this time vrs the opener was that you actually had to hunt them down, it wasn't a shootout, they were really spooky, you'd start into a piece of cover and they'd boil out the sides and ends. Its amazing the number of birds out there (we were hunting west of Redfield). It was nothing to see 50-60 birds at a time. We'd put out posters to block the cover, but we had the best luck when we'd bust a bunch of birds out of heavy cover like a shelterbelt or slough, then go hit every small pothole that was close by. Then when our posters left for home a couple of days early, my brother and I had luck hitting the bigger cover from opposite ends, each of us with dogs, creating the 'confusion factor'. Lots of birds would wave out, but enough would hold that we'd get some good shooting. Its amazing how far the birds out there will fly! Here in MN they might fly 1/4 mile, out there when you jump some birds, the last time you see them they're going over the hill 3/4 mile away! Fun, fun, splendid fun is all I can say!

I am concerned about SoDak though. Lots more farming, which means the farmers are trying to work up every little pothole. We saw several different spots where they had two big tractors working low areas, one with a digger pulling up rocks, the other picking the rocks. One spot we saw thousands of ducks in just a few years ago! Sounds like western MN 25 years ago. The farmers are figuring that they can make more money growing crops than growing beef. In the long term, it could be bad for pheasants out there.