Just got back from sd grouse hunting. The no's were down but shot a few and had some great dog work. Scenting conditions were as good as I have had, all but 2 days that got a little hot. As far as the Pheasant no's. they seemed to be way down but when I hunted down out of the prairies in the pheasant areas I did get about 7 or 8 hens and 3 or 4 roosters pointed so there is still a few left. Where I traveled gravel roads going to the prairie last year hunting I would see bunches of 10-25 pheasants on the road, this year I was lucky to see 2 or 3 birds. There is tons more cover this year but still should have seen more pheasants on the roads picking up gravel. I did see several broods that are way to young to have been counted before august 15 the cut off for thier counts. I only saw one fully colored rooster so most were young birds. here is a pic of 2 sharpies and 2 pcs.

Very nice. Is it hard to tell a hen pheasant from the grouse when they flush?
Great to hear there was a late pheasant hatch. Thanks for the report.

That is great. I hope to get into some of those when we head up there soon.

That was my excuse.

Also, thanks for posting the picture.

thanks

I'll be heading that way in a few weeks for the opener. Hope to put a few birds in my bag while I'm there.

give us a report on no.s and bring some pics back, and good luck

I'm headed to the SD/ND border on my first pheasant hunt on Oct 24th. Can't wait!

Warning If you go one time you can not stop you keep going back again, again!!!!!
it happen to me 15+ years ago

reports from ND say the wet weather they had hurt the brood this year and numbers are way down. I'm still going and still excited.

The news just reported that they got three feet of snow up there today.

Hope it all melts within the next 2 weeks.

congrats on the hunt, I think I enjoy the working of the dogs as much as anything else that goes on.

Me too..just planned my trip!