Pheasant season is upon us, and the outlook for the 2024 pheasant hunting season in South Dakota is extremely positive! Hunters should expect to find both great numbers of birds and ample public hunting opportunities as South Dakota continues to prove it is the greatest state to pheasant hunt.
The 2023 season was extremely successful, with over 135,400 hunters hitting the fields and harvesting 1,243,000 pheasants. Generally speaking, this translates to approximately 9 birds per hunter throughout the course of the season.
Following the excellent bird numbers and hunting conditions in 2023 was a mild winter, which set up for good numbers of birds to enter the spring nesting season. These conditions were amplified even greater with ideal spring moisture conditions creating excellent nesting and brood rearing cover.
The combination of the strong population numbers, ideal nesting and brood rearing cover, and favorable habitat conditions across the state has led to extreme optimism that 2024 is going to be one of the best in recent memory.
Throughout late-summer, both landowners and hunters were reporting excellent numbers of broods, and large broods, across the primary pheasant range in South Dakota. Going hand in hand with the excitement for pheasant season was a highly positive outlook for the prairie grouse season as well. This season kicked off in mid-September, and hunters were reporting seeing good numbers of pheasants while on these early season hunts as well.
Along with the grouse season, hunters also report seeing both excellent numbers of both roosters and hens throughout the South Dakota youth-only pheasant season. These reports from hunters, combined with the late-summer brood reports, are all pointing towards a truly spectacular South Dakota pheasant season.
Speaking of prairie grouse, upland bird hunters will have additional time to target prairie grouse, quail, and partridge, as these seasons has been extended until January 31 to align with the pheasant season. Indeed, South Dakota is not just the greatest state to pheasant hunt but provides spectacular upland bird hunting as a whole.
This means the upland bird seasons for 2024 are as follows:
- Resident Only Pheasant Season: October 12-14
- Traditional Pheasant Season: October 19-January 31
- Quail: October 19-January 31
- Prairie Grouse: September 21-January 31
- Partridge: September 21-January 31
Increased Public Land Hunting Opportunities
What makes South Dakota such a unique state to hunt is the various types of opportunities for hunters to enjoy. However you like to hunt, you’re going to find exactly what you’re looking for. Whether it’s a public land DIY hunt, a completely catered hunting lodge experience, and everything in-between there is something for every hunter across the state.
Public land hunters in particular are going to find additional opportunities to hunt across South Dakota. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has enrolled over 1,557,000 acres of private land open for public hunting for the 2024 season. These acres include the Walk-In Area program, James River Watershed Conservation Reserve Program (CREP), and Big Sioux Watershed CREP.
Public land hunters who are hunting South Dakota for the first time are encouraged to focus on these CREP acres, as these lands offer both high quality upland game habitat as well as public hunting access. Hunters will also find success hunting the Public Access to Habitat (PATH) program, which is public hunting access provided courtesy of a partnership with Pheasants Forever, onX Hunt, Travel South Dakota, and GFP.
Hunters Need to Be Aware of Dry Conditions
Wherever they are hunting, one element hunters need to be aware of is the dry conditions much of South Dakota has experienced throughout the late summer and early fall season. This has led to increased fire danger, and hunters need to take extra precaution to ensure they do their part to prevent a wildfire.
The best way to prevent wildfire is avoid parking on dry vegetation, stay on designated roads and trails, prevent chains from dragging, and always have water and/or a fire extinguisher with you when out in the field. Additionally, respecting local burn bans, utilizing spark arresters, and being mindful of other local ordinances can ensure hunters have both a safe and respectful hunt.
South Dakota State Parks Offer Excellent Lodging Options
Hunters who are still looking for accommodations for their hunt are also strongly encouraged to check out South Dakota State Parks. Fall is the perfect time to both camp or stay at one of the various lodging facilities, as the crowds of summer have slowed down, the parks are enjoying the fall color progressions, and many parks and recreation areas sit right in the heart of the best pheasant hunting areas.
South Dakota state parks and recreation areas remain open throughout the year, though some facilities and water features may close for the winter, particularly as freezing conditions begin to grip the state. For example, comfort stations generally stay open until late October, as parks try to keep these facilities available as long as conditions allow for hunters and anglers to enjoy.
For hunters who may not be looking to camp, modern lodging facilities provide the perfect option. These feature running water, kitchens, private bathrooms, and larger bedrooms and living quarters. Whether it’s a pair of buddies, a couple, or a large hunting party there are modern lodging options across the state to fit every hunter’s needs.
Blast and Cast Opportunities Present Across South Dakota
While the fields turn orange as pheasant hunters flock to the fields, the excellent fisheries across the state that had experienced busy ramps now sit quiet. While pheasants, ducks, and deer are on the minds of many, fall brings one of the best bites of the year across the state. Whether it is targeting trophy caliber walleye on Lake Oahe, filling limits on Lake Sharpe, or sneaking out at sunset or sunrise from shore in the Glacial Lakes region of South Dakota anglers will often find a very strong bite, and plenty of quiet water waiting for them to enjoy.
Hunters coming to South Dakota to pheasant hunt would be wise to throw a rod in the truck as well, because as the temperatures drop the shore fishing options begin to really heat up, particularly across the primary pheasant range. Much of the excellent pheasant hunting areas align with excellent walleye fisheries, and these make the perfect opportunity to start the day with a sunrise on the water before shooting time, or rest your legs after a day walking the fields.
While walleyes on the Missouri River reservoirs can bite all day long particularly for anglers fishing from the boat, shore anglers will find walleyes are very accommodating for hunters targeting pheasants in the middle of the day, as walleyes feed primarily at dawn, dusk, and throughout the first few hours of darkness.
Make Plans to Have an Awesome Season
Fall is here in South Dakota, and all signs point toward this being one of the best in recent memory. The pheasant numbers are excellent, the public land hunting opportunities are ample, and hunters should expect to find bonus upland game hunting opportunities across much of the pheasant range as well. This is a season you don’t want to miss out on, now is the time to make plans for a South Dakota pheasant hunt! When you do, don’t forget about South Dakota State Parks and the blast and cast opportunities too. There truly is no greater South Dakota outdoor experience!
Article Photo Credit: Allie Ellingson
All photos featured in this article are courtesy of Allie Ellingson, who is a passionate South Dakota outdoor user. When she’s not catching walleye on the Missouri River, walking the fields for pheasants, or hiking the Black Hills she’s camping in South Dakota State Parks! Follow along with all of Allie’s adventures by checking her out on Instagram!
