When Does Pheasant Season Start In South Dakota - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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The opening day of South Dakota’s 2022 traditional pheasant hunting season is Saturday. It’s practically a holiday in these parts.

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There aren’t big changes for this year’s season. A year ago, a couple of state laws were massaged to allow for earlier hunting in the first couple weeks of the season and to extend the season through January. That said, we still have plenty of helpful information like where to buy licenses, how much they cost, a few tips and what entertainment options there are in our annual pheasant primer. Give it a read and familiarize yourself with what to know before you hit the fields.

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Welcome to town, good luck and, most of all, enjoy the hunt!

How much are licenses and where can I get them?

Small game licenses that include pheasants are $33 for residents. A residential one-day small game license is $12. A resident youth small game license for hunters 12 to 17 is $5. A $10 habitat stamp is also required for hunters who are 18 and older if this is the first hunting license purchased in 2022.

Nonresident small game licenses are $121 and are good for two five-day periods. The periods can be consecutive. A nonresident youth license is $10. The habitat stamp is $25.

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Hunters flock to the area every fall in search of South Dakota

Combination small game and fishing licenses for residents, which can also be used for pheasants, are $55 for adults and $40 for senior citizens 65 or older.

Licenses can be purchased online. A $6 surcharge is assessed for each license. For more information, visit gfp.sd.gov/hunt-fish-license/. There are also 280 registered license dealers across South Dakota. Licenses can be purchased at the following businesses in Brown County.

Aberdeen

Dunham’s, 3315 Sixth Ave. S.E., Suite 300
Ken’s SuperFair Foods, 2201 Sixth Ave. S.E.
Kessler’s, 621 Sixth Ave. S.E.
Runnings, 1815 Sixth Ave. S.E.
Sodak Sport and Bait, 850 S. U.S. Highway 281.
Walmart, 3820 Seventh Ave. S.E.

Groton

Ken’s SuperFair Foods, 4 E. U.S. Highway 12.

Some private hunting lodges also sell licenses.

Electronic small game licenses are accepted. To use one, log in to your South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks licensing account and take a screenshot.

When can pheasant hunting start, and what’s the bird limit?

The pheasant season opens Saturday and runs until Jan. 31, 2023. Shooting is allowed from 10 a.m. until sunset for the entire season.

Three rooster pheasants are allowed each day, with a possession limit of 15 roosters total. It is illegal to shoot hens.

Both birds and people have flocked to the Aberdeen area for Saturday’s traditional pheasant hunting season opener. Hunting can begin at 10 a.m. Courtesy photo

All public lands in South Dakota are open for hunting, with the following exceptions where pheasant hunting is only allowed in December and January:

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Brown County): Dec. 12, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023
Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge (Brown and Marshall counties): Dec. 1. 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023
Gerken Game Bird Refuge (Faulk County): Dec. 1. 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023
White Lake Game Bird Refuge (Marshall County): Dec. 1. 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023

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The state’s Turn In Poachers hotline is 1-888-683-7224. Reports can be made anonymously. Informants are eligible for rewards. Help sustain the South Dakota pheasant population for years to come.

What’s the weather outlook?

It’s going to be cool at night, around freezing, but the next few days should be mild. The projected high for Saturday is 55, according to the National Weather Service. Sunday and Monday the temperature should hover around 50. That’s a bit below normal, but the skies should be mostly sunny.

More:Below freezing temperatures moving into southeastern South Dakota, NWS says

South Dakota has plenty of wind, and it has been dry in parts of the region, so exercise caution when you’re out and about. The NWS has issued red flag warnings in recent days, reminding folks that wind could whip up any flames and cause them to spread.

What’s the season outlook?

The South Dakota GFP stopped conducting brood surveys in recent years, so it’s hard to get a good feel for numbers.

Generally speaking, though, spring and summer rains across much of the primary pheasant range have provided lush and green habitat for nesting and brood-rearing, according to the Upland Outlook, which is compiled by GFP. With those spring conditions and the mild conditions last winter, pheasant populations have traditionally responded positively.

A group of female hunters approach a field near bath in 2019. The South Dakota pheasant hunting season opens Saturday.

Thousands of people are expected to visit the region coming weeks to hunt pheasants. Tourism is one of the leading industries in South Dakota, and in the northeastern part of the state, pheasant hunting is a big draw. Last year, 126,961 resident and nonresident hunters harvested 1,067,423 pheasants statewide, according to GFP information.

The five counties with the highest reported pheasant harvests were Beadle, Brown, Brule, Lyman and Tripp. In all, resident and non-resident hunters spent an estimated $246.8 million, according to GFP data.

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Maps and apps show public hunting areas

Maps showing public access hunting areas are available on the GFP website at gfp.sd.gov/maps. Smartphone apps are also available for both Androids and iPhones. Search for “SD GFP Outdoors” in the respective stores to download the app.

Blaze orange recommended, but not required

Wearing bright orange in the field is not required by law. However, it is strongly recommended so hunters can be easily spotted by others.

Trespassing on private land not allowed

It is illegal to hunt on private land without permission. Violators could be charged with trespassing. Hunters are allowed to shoot pheasants in most road rights of way. Right-of-way hunters must be on foot. Birds must have taken flight from within or be flying over the right of way. A pheasant shot in a right of way that lands on private land can be retrieved on foot. Hunters are not allowed to discharge firearms from vehicles.

Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition provides incentives for walk-in program enrollment

A group of local businesses and organizations in the Aberdeen area, spearheaded by Northern South Dakota Pheasants Forever Chapter No. 77, provide financial incentives to property owners to enroll land in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program and the GFP public walk-in program.

Land enrolled in both programs is added to public walk-in maps.

Aberdeen area entertainment options in the day to come

Friday

Fall shootout and hunters social: 5-10 p.m. at City Lights Bar and Events Center. Event is sponsored by Pheasants Forever and features raffles, games, live and silent auctions. Admission is free. Food is available for purchase.
Aberdeen Elks Lodge entertainment: 6-10 p.m. Aberdeen Elks Lodge No. 1046, 705 Circle Drive. Steak dinner at 6 p.m., followed by music by David Redfield.

Saturday

Handmade Market: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Dakota Event Center, 720 S. Lamont St. Free. The Handmade Market is a marketplace of vendors selling unique handcrafted items, repurposed furniture, farmer’s market goods, home décor, and so much more.

Of course, there are many restaurants and bars to choose from across the region, and some of them might also feature entertainment.

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