How To Get The Most Out Of South Dakota Pheasant Hunting

By Sharron Cantu


Estelline is part of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical area of the state of South Dakota. It had a grand population of 768 people as of the census in 2010. Estelline is also great for South Dakota pheasant hunting. Altogether, the city has a total area of less than one square mile. You can probably figure out the population density for yourself. Compare to this to the most heavily populated city in the United States, New York, which has a population density of almost 28,000 per square mile.

Two other fruitful areas for pheasant-hunting are Aberdeen, about a five-hour drive southwest of Estelline, and Chamberlain, between two and a half and three hours to the northwest. Chamberlain has half the population of Estelline distributed over nearly three times the area, for a population density of 360/square mile. Aberdeen, another micropolitan statistical area, has a population density of 1,700/square mile.

Situated on the Missouri River, Chamberlain forms part of pheasant-hunting's Golden Triangle. Brood counts, currently around 16 per square mile, have been steadily increasing over the decade up to 2014. The statewide average is roughly half that. Aberdeen boasts some 200,000 acres of available land for the public to feed its pheasant-hunting habit. It's been said that hunters in Aberdeen can sometimes average roughly nine birds per season.

Pheasants have pronounced sexual dimorphism, with the males highly colored and exhibiting distinctive features such as long tails and wattles. The family name for these birds is Phasianidae. They breed happily in captivity and settle in happily in a variety of climates.

While a lot of fun, gathering Phasianidae for the dinner table is fabulous exercise. Experts recommend familiarizing yourself with your shotgun before you venture into the wilderness. Practicing with clay pigeons should give you plenty of confidence. While going to the local dump and shooting pigeons is not without its emotional gratification, this is often frowned upon by local authorities.

This is not a sport for the faint-hearted. You can count on a lot of traipsing up and down hills and through marshes. Make sure you can manage this before you go out. When shooting in pairs or in groups, pheasant-hunters walk abreast to ensure they do not shoot each other.

For an enhanced experience, take a good hunting dog with you. Different breeds have different talents. If you want an animal who will flush the birds out of the brush for you, go for a spaniel or a retriever. If you prefer to do the flushing yourself, but want a companion who will point to the birds for you, then you are better off with a continental breed, such as a Brittany, a GSP or a GWP.

An extra perk to wearing yourself out and getting sopping wet is the possibility that you will bring home a little something for the dinner table. Slowly roast it, perhaps with juniper berries, and serve alongside a jug of old-fashioned bread sauce.




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