South Dakota Pheasant Hunting – Why it’s the best
If you ask any avid pheasant hunter where’s the best place to pheasant hunt, you will likely hear from them, “If you really want a great time than you need to go to South Dakota pheasant hunting.” More specifically, you’d need to go to eastern South Dakota for the best hunt, but the point is the same. Below are only three of the MANY reasons pheasant hunting in South Dakota is the best. Anyone who told you how great the hunting is here would be lying to you or trying to make a sale, the proof is in the numbers.
1. South Dakota has the most pheasants
- The top 5 states for pheasant hunting are Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Historically, South Dakota has had a larger harvest than its neighbors, in many cases, significantly larger.
| Top 5 Pheasant States | Highest Harvest |
| Kansas | 824,000 |
| Minnesota | 1,700,000 |
| Nebraska | 1,670,000 |
| North Dakota | 2,450,000 |
| South Dakota | 7,507,000 |
2. SD LOVES their pheasant hunters
South Dakota residents appreciate their pheasant hunters because hunting is such a big part of the South Dakota economy. Residents have come to rely on the income hunters bring to the communities and they let you know it. If you fly into Aberdeen, SD airport on opening weekend, you’ll have Chamber of Commerce volunteers there to greet you and give you free gifts as if you’re an Olympic athlete. Signs all over town say Welcome Hunters and you’re treated well at any pheasant hunting lodge. SD wants their hunters back year after year and you’re treated in such a way that you want to come back.
3. Million Dollar bird contest
In NE South Dakota for the second year in a row, there is a chance to win $1,000.000. How cool is it that not only do you get a chance to pheasant hunt in one of the greatest places in the US, but you could win a million bucks doing it!. Hunters must look for birds banded with specific numbers as part of the Million Dollar bird contest. One of the band numbers is randomly selected at the start of the season and kept secret. Each band is worth $100 – $500 and all bands are eligible for the additional $1,000,000. At the end of the season the $1,000,000 band number is revealed. If that band was one of the bands retrived throughout the season, the owner wins $1,000,000. Last year, the winning number was not one of the 41 bands pulled.
I’m still pretty new to the pheasant hunting scene, but I already love it. It sounds like I’m going to have to take your advice and go visit South Dakota. Who can pass up the chance to win a million dollars while doing something as fun as hunting pheasants?
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