Hunting...
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You have to experience Pheasant Crest!
In this section of our web site we will try to provide most
of the information you will need or would like to know.
Just remember, mere words can't capture the fun and excitement
of the real thing!
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The Land
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The Pheasant Crest Ranch has been in our family for over 80
years and is a working ranch focused primarily on grain and
cattle. Comprised
of over 12,000 acres, the ranch provides an incredible variety
of terrain and breathtaking scenery.
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From wooded shelter-belts to rolling grassland and seemingly
infinite crop fields, the hunting is never boring or predictable
(well, some things are predictable...like we know your going
to see a lot of birds and have a really great time!) At
Pheasant Crest we provide a well maintained fleet of field
vehicles to provide comfortable transportation to and from
the hunting areas (which are never more than 10 miles from
the lodge).
Because of the vastness of the ranch we always review the
days hunt ahead of time on maps so everyone knows where they
are on any given day. What a thrill it is to hear the
guide say..."Get ready, we're pushing about a hundred
birds your way!" What is truly amazing about this area
is how it has evolved in to one of the premiere Pheasant hunting
habitats in the world. What most people don't realize
is that you need a combination of environmental factors to
ensure a hearty Pheasant Population.
Many years ago, hunters, ranchers and environmentalists realized
the need to balance the land habitat by reducing farmed areas,
and increasing nesting grounds. With corn, Milo, sunflowers,
grain and many other crops as far as the eye can see, there
is obviously no food shortage for the birds, but nesting grounds
were getting scarce.
The solution was the CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) program. This
government sponsored program provides incentives for farmers
and ranchers to set aside tracts of land that provide natural
nesting grounds for game birds and other animals.
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The results are impressive. Since the CRP program was
started, the Pheasant population has had a dramatic increase
in the last 5 years. The hearty vegetation of the CRP
areas not only provides nesting areas, but cover from winter
storms
as well.
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The Pheasant Population
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As mentioned above, changes in land management
have resulted in explosive growth in Pheasant populations.
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Hunters who thought they had hunted the best areas
in the US in other states such as Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa
come to Pheasant Crest / South Dakota and are totally impressed! Most
hunters claim to have seen 5 to 10 times more birds in South
Dakota than in other surrounding states.
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South Dakota Hunting Styles
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Many different styles of hunting Pheasants have evolved over
the years and at Pheasant Crest we employ all the popular styles
to accommodate terrain and vegetation. Small groups can
effectively hunt wooded areas, but larger groups can more effectively
hunt the large open areas such as crop fields and grasslands.
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One such technique used is the Driving & Blocking Technique. This
style allows for good coverage and action for just about everyone.
Groups of 8 to 15 hunters are well suited for this type of
hunting. With larger groups up to 5 dogs may be used.
Safety is one of Pheasant Crest's number one priorities. We
make sure everyone is comfortable with the their guns, and
with the terrain they will be hunting in before taking to the
field. We also rotate walkers and blockers. That way everyone
will get a variety of shots at flushing birds and more than
a few chances at fast action pass shooting.
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A Typical Day at Pheasant Crest
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Early Morning
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Coffee, muffins, bagels and fruit. Watch the
beautiful South Dakota sunrise.
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7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
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Hot breakfast in the Lodge.
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8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
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Warm up your skills with sporting clays.
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10:00 a.m.
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Start Hunting
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1:00 p.m.
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Lunch
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2:00 p.m.
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Back to the action!
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5:30 p.m.
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Return to the lodge for Hors d'oeuvres and
beverages, and discuss the day's hunt while enjoying the sunset
from the deck.
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7:00 p.m.
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Dinner & wine.
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Evening
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Cigars on the deck watching the stars fall
in the South Dakota sky. Relax with your favorite drink in your
hand, watch a movie, play cards or pool, enjoy the convenience
of a gambling casino just a short 25 minutes away with blackjack,
poker, and slots.
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The Dogs
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Many breeds of hunting dogs are provided at Pheasant Crest
and well-trained dogs accompanying guests can also be used.
Labrador Retrievers are well suited for flushing and retrieving
and are
large enough to tackle dense brush. A few of our labs
will actually point. This can provide some real exiting action.
The
only thing we stress is that guests dogs be well-trained,
especially if they are not used to the tremendous number
of birds they
will encounter.
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The Weather
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The weather during the hunting season in South Dakota is generally
very favorable, however it can make fairly wide swings in temperature
from morning through mid-day. We suggest that hunters
dress in layers to accommodate these changes. At the
beginning of the season temperatures range from 30 degrees
to 70 degrees with generally dry conditions. The ground
can be a bit muddy at times depending upon rainfall, so water
proof boots are suggested. Toward the end of the season,
winter hunting attire is recommended, again in layers with
attention to insulated boots.
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Click the logo above for the
5-day forecast for Kimball, SD
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Recommended guns, shells & shot type
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You can really use just about any type of shot gun for this
type of hunting, but 12 and 20 gauge guns are favored among
many Pheasant hunters. Shooting distances can really vary depending
upon the terrain and time of the season so we recommend bringing
a variety of different chokes if your gun is interchangeable. Close-up
shots are just as common as long leading shots. We recommend
#4 & #5 shot. (lead shot is permitted and most common). Pheasant
Crest does provide high quality shells, so you don't have
to bring any.
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recommended gear list
- Hard side locking gun case (required on all commercial
flights).
- Gun (12-gauge highly recommended). We provide 2-3/4" shells
for 12-20 gauge.
- Hunting pants.
- Hunting boots and socks.
- Hunting jacket (temperatures vary from 0 to 80 degrees;
we recommend dressing in layers).
- Gloves/warm gloves for late-season hunting.
- Waterproof hunting gear is always a good idea.
- Protective eyewear (extras are provided if you forget).
- Casual lodge clothing (no sport jacket or tie, just comfortable
lounging clothes).
- Camera and film.
- Phone numbers: Lodge: 605-778-6340 Lodge Fax:
605-778-6958
- Brian's cell phone: 605-730-4000
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