Recent content by safari

Left SD and headed to SW ND after the 2007 season.

2 groups that were originally to hunt in the Hettinger (town) area contacted our outfitter while we were there about booking hunts later in the season. Their landowners were nice enough to contact them in advance and told them not to come because the birds were "gone".

Sounds like a man telling the truth.

Bird numbers were better IN OUR AREA than in 2011 or 2012. However the further south you go the more winterkill you see as a result of the big snowstorm. We were 12 miles north of Regent and only got 6". Mott and points south got hit harder and had significant winterkill in some areas. Areas...

It gets the most activity and as most of you know the one I voice my opinions on. Had a very good hunt in Regent...we limited everyday and had glimpses of the past. At the end of one drive the birds kept coming out for I'll bet you 20+ minutes. You could se the habitat loss in the surrounding...

Just a difference in opinion Chris..in my book going from 12 million birds (2007) to 3 million today, with the corresponding loss of habitat constitutes a "devastating loss".

Off to Regent in the morning for the ND opener..my 6th since 2002. We were fortunate to have been north of the worst snow that came last week..just 6 inches and long gone. Will give a report next week.

Some have indicated that I and other posters "get pleasure" out of reporting what we have observed taking place in SD over many decades of experience..I can tell you that is NOT TRUE. What has happened is a devastating loss to myself, the hunting community, South Dakota and conservation in general.

All Openers: Hitchcock - 1980 Reliance - 1981, 1983 Doland - 1993 Kimball - 1995, 1996 Huron - 2000 Doland/Turton - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Without a doubt 2000 thru 2007 was the modern day soil bank in that old hotbed of Spink and surrounding counties. All gone now..doubt I will ever go...

Nothing but doom and gloom since 2007 to report.

I spoke with my guy 10 miles North of Regent earlier today. His report is "the 6 inches of snow they received is gone and birds everywhere".

I have been criticized for being so blunt in my statements regarding the demise of wild pheasant hunting. I believe the majority of comments in this thread with more detail ultimately lead to the same conclusion. I have been on 11 SD openers between 1980 and 2007 and this Saturday will be my 6th...

The deer hunters are losing their A$$es right now with the massive EHD losses there.

I am going to Mott/Regent again this year..probably my last trip ever to either of the Dakota's...SAD ending!

Better hurry..SD is about finished as well.