RING-NECKED PHEASANT The ring-necked pheasant, which became the state bird of South Dakota, is commonly found in agriculture farmlands with crops of corn, wheat, oats, barley or hay, or areas with grasslands mixed with small woodlands. Pheasant is a popular midwestern game bird, drawing hunters from across the nation each fall season.

 

The new wears off, but the fun doesn't go away. This is a fitting description of pheasant hunting after the season's been in a couple of weeks. The hoopla of opening day dies down, but there's still plenty good hunting left for those who'll work to find it.

Outdoor writer Joel Vance says South Dakota has two pheasant seasons. The first season lasts about two weeks, and its wild, with armies of hunters and endless festivity. Then the second season comes in, when the crowds start to dwindle, and surviving birds are a lot smarter about hunter avoidance.

Vance says this is a good time for non-residents to pack up and come to this state. He says they can almost always find some roosters.

"They have what they call walk-in hunting and South Dakota is noted for it, they have somewhere along one million acres of walk-in areas," he notes. "Farmers or ranchers lease their land and they get paid a certain amount, and it has to be preserved land for attracting food for pheasants. So you know its pretty good pheasant habitat. Best part it that it's open to the public. It's what is called walk-in hunting. You park, turn out your dog, and go hunting."

"The state has maps so that when they buy the permit, you may get it automatically. But if not you can always ask when you buy your permit for an atlas of the walk-in areas. It's a big book. I know Kansas has the same thing, now I'm not sure about Nebraska or North Dakota. Anyway, these atlases are invaluable and they give you a section line and the whole bit."

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