South Dakota pheasant count down as season nears

South Dakota's pheasant hunting season starts Oct. 19, 2019. (photo courtesy South Dakota...
South Dakota's pheasant hunting season starts Oct. 19, 2019. (photo courtesy South Dakota Department of Tourism)(KOTA)
Published: Sep. 5, 2019 at 12:25 PM CDT
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Hunters will find this year’s South Dakota pheasant season a little more challenging than last year, with an estimated 17 percent fewer birds per mile.

Fewer hens and broods were counted along 110 survey routes; while the number of roosters remained about the same, according to the Game, Fish and Parks

.

Of course, success or failure depends on where you hunt; 40 out of the 110 routes had a higher pheasants per mile index than 2018. Western South Dakota is reportedly a little better than last year but not by much. The Pierre area is “significantly below the 10-year average,” the GF&P report stated.

South Dakota’s 2019 traditional pheasant season runs Oct. 19 through Jan. 5, with a youth season from Oct. 5-9. A resident-only season runs Oct. 12-14.

Go to

for detailed information about South Dakota’s pheasant hunting season.