2010 Windy Hill Outfitters Pheasant forecast
August 25, 2010
 2010 South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Season Outlook Forecast Report-Fall
Posted: Aug. 23, 2010
Good Brood Numbers and Crops Ahead of Schedule Well this is ahead of the South Dakota Brood Reports but you can form your own opinions from thier data. Last week I was out at the farm and took this video from a 6 mile drive between farms in Charles mix County South Dakota. This is my first (and maybe last) informal roadside survey. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TppsITzN0oE All our camps are encouraged by the brood numbers they are seeing. We are also aware that a large number of acres went unplanted in South Dakota resulting in fallow acres and birds have been using this to nest. This will result in increased bird numbers and increased hunting acres. Not as much crop is planted and in some areas as little as 30% of corn crop was planted due to wet spring fields. Unlike the last 2 years the crops are all WELL ahead of the 5 year average according to the USDA. Ideal growing conditions have been experienced and th heat or growing degree days is way up from last 2 years. This is key to broods because they need the heat too for their early days out of the nest. Insect production has been high due to moisture and this is key to brood success. If this weather pattern continues we could see early harvest of beans and corn. When crops get out early the bird per hunter average goes up regardless of what the bird counts show. Many have speculated that the bird counts would be down from last year, considering the winter SD had, but don't count the resiliency of the birds and the vastly different summer weather patterns we have experienced in the state. I believe we will see bird counts across the state come in at or above last years counts. Conditions look ripe for a perfect South Dakota Pheasant Storm in 2010. | |
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2010 WINDY HILL WATERFOWL MAP OF SOUTH DAKOTA
August 20, 2010
WATERFOWL POPULATION INDEX/HUNTING OPPORTUNITY THUNDERSTORM MAP
Game Fish and Parks field staff created the map below by rating areas of each county on a scale of 1-10 regarding the current quality of waterfowling opportunity. These maps will be updated on a weekly basis and should provide a good indicator of the waterfowl activity for the upcoming weekend. Just because an area appears in blue, it doesn't mean there aren't quality opportunities available. Rankings are based on daily observations of field staff and the availability of access and public land.
Last Update: August 19, 2010 10:30 AM . This map shows the current goose hunting opportunity.
Select the area number to view a detailed .pdf of that grid. These maps correspond with the same numbered maps in the 2010 Public Hunting Atlas.
- 08/19/2010: Hunters are reporting spotty success from the first weekend of the August goose take. As with most waterfowl hunting, hunters who had time to scout and not only see what field geese were utilizing, but where in that particular field the geese were sitting had the most success.
- Hunters that focused their efforts on low, wet spots in soybean fields generally reported very good success.
July 15, 2010
Looking for the Perfect Hunting Partner?
February 08, 2009
Are you looking for the perfect hunting partner with reliability, organization and readiness for the hunt? They're an excellent shot, never get bored, aren't full of complaints and are good traveling partners.
If all of these things sound good, you need to consider taking your DAUGHTER hunting.
On a recent hunt with Windy Hill Outfitters, I took my daughter, who is a freshman in college and Division 1 athlete, along with a team mate of hers, on a late season goose hunt. Both girls were taught to hunt at a young age, but with their busy schedules, neither of them had been afield for a while. I figured that going with Windy Hill Outfitters would be a good fit to put them on a good hunt... things couldn't have turned out better.
From the very first "Take em guys" or I should say, "Take em GALS", the ladies were deadly with their shooting on the first group of 6 geese. They killed 5 out of 6! The guide and I were pleasantly surprised and I think, a little shocked. As the day went on, the shooting continued to be just as crisp and on the mark with a number of singles, doubles and one large flock. In between the action, the girls sipped on coffee, swapped stories and were a pleasure to spend a cold January morning with in the goose pit.
I've hunted with many different people and personalities over the years and I must say that young ladies are relaxed, don't get bored and really amaze me with their smooth shooting abilities. I've seen a lot of young men who can't get out of bed, can't find their gear, then insist on trying to stick their heads out of the pit all day against the wishes of the guide... then they're so damn excited that they miss most of what they shoot at.
GET YOUR DAUGHTERS OUT THERE! .... and thanks Mike!
May 07, 2010
For more videos from SD Glacial Lakes & Prairies, visit our YouTube page.
UPDATED: May 4th, 2010
Regional Fishing Update: Water temperatures are starting to warm up across our region. Regular reports will begin as shoreline fishing and open water season heats up. We are starting to receive more fishing report updates. Those are below.
Area forecast: Wind continues to be in our forecast, along with cooler tempatures. Overnight lows in the low to mid 30s through the weekend. High of 60 degrees on Tueday, and in the upper 40s/low 50s the remainder of this week. Rain is also in the forecast for Thursday and Friday, as well as Sunday and Monday. Hopefully Mother Nature will give us beautiful spring weather next week:)
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2010 South Dakota Pheasant Report - Windy Hill Outfitters
May 07, 2010
Spring Bird Reports from Landowners Encouraging
After a formidable winter across the 5 state region, circumstances did not look good for most wildlife on decent survival rates. However, after working fields and talking with other contacts and other pheasant camp owners the reports on bird sitings, carry over numbers and spring rooster crowing counts is very very encouraging considering this is the harshest winter I have seen in 9 years.
It should be noted that I visit with contacts across all the great pheasant regions in South Dakota and all areas are boasting encouraging survival news. The Christams blizzard was sure to have taken some birds but there is clearly sufficient roosters and hens around to have a go at a good hatch and then state will need a good hatch to get close to seasonal high bird numbers this fall. Each spring I mow food plots for planting and prep news areas for CRP and there was not 1 piece of cover that did not contain hens and roosters in it.
My next report will be around mid July when we will know what type of conditions and results we had for the hatch.
2009-2010 Winter Will Be Hard on Birds
I just got back from a week out at the farm getting equipment ready for spring planting and here is my take on the state of the pheasant union:
- Just driving around there was not a lot of visible signs of birds.
- My west farm and east farm are 6 miles apart and the west farm did not winter very many birds at all. The east farm had a large shelterbelt and good milo food plots on leeward side and reports of 300+ pheasant were wintered there. They had access to 5 - 1 acre milo plots and they picked them all clean which I have never seen before. That was what was above the snow line. Now that snow has melted they have access to a whole new batch of food from what was folded over and laying on the ground.
- My belief is that if birds did not have access to a large shelterbelt and close food source they stood a good chance of perishing and I assume many did. This is backed up by fact that most all other cover and food sources were filled in with snow and thereby eliminated all food/cover benefits.
- I was encouraged when driving around west farm and marking corners of new CRP that I did kick out a few roosters and several hens. I believe birds will begin to disperse and migrate back to good nesting areas and the roosters will stakeout new territory. March was nice and mild and all the snow is pretty much gone now so that is huge.
- Another benefit of the way snow filled in cover is that it did not pack it down and thereby the nice grasses that were standing in the fall were preserved and will create good nesting structure and cover.
- Surviving birds now have access to unlimited food sources and the cover is good now too.
- Not much crowing going on now but might be too early to tell but that will be another indicator of mortality rate. I suspect mortality could be between 50-75%. A good hatch could be the equalized though as these birds can really rebound.
