South Dakota Hunting Trip 2005

South Dakota was planned as soon as we came home from North Dakota last year. This year we had 7 in our group. In the past we have had as many as 13, and as few as 5. We went a few weeks into the season so the weather would be cooler (it also does not affect field trial season). We started on Thursday night Tom, Brad and I drove in the Expedition. Jim C, Doug and Steve drove Jim’s truck. Jim W drives alone to be free and come and go as he likes. As always our first stop is Caballes in Mitchell S.D. after that we can get down to some hunting. The first day is always a little lighter for us. We met some other friends that were based in Mitchell hunted a few hours with them, and then on to Pierre. We have a mix of dogs in the group. Tom, Brad, and I have vizslas, Steve has a lab and a vizsla, Doug has labs, Jim has German wirehaired pointers, and Jim W has a pointer and a shorthair.

We hunt public land most of the time. The land has been worked hard and the birds don’t stick around like the first couple of days of the season. We don’t do a lot of the block and push hunting. It just doesn’t seem right behind pointing dogs. We usually break up into groups of two or three and let the dogs do their thing. Some birds flush as soon as we enter the field, others hold so tight you almost have to step on them.

We try and do quite a bit of prairie grouse hunting. In the grasslands you can really let the dogs open up. There is nothing like seeing a dog lock up on top of a hill, walking up and having a covey of grouse bust out of the grass. We were lucky this year the weather was warm enough that they were not in huge groups. The bigger the covey the harder they are to get close to.

The highlight of the trip was when we were hunting a draw. The draw split and I went up to the dam. Above the dam was pond with cattails and grass. It had a few trees and was surrounded by crops. I worked the edge and then went toward one of the points. I was hunting Ariel, she locked up on point. I walked in and had about 30 grouse flush all around me. After I caught my breath I dropped a nice prairie chicken. Not more than a minute later about 100 yards from the first covey I had another covey of chickens. As this covey got up I had about 200 pheasants flush wild. I shot another chicken but the pheasants were all out of range. Over a nice point I picked up a nice rooster that didn’t flush. As I worked over to the other point I could see birds running and flying out of the pocket up the hill into the crops. By this time Tom, and Brad came up the hill to join in. The birds all flushed wild but there were hundreds of birds in all. On our way back to the truck we picked up a few more birds and had a great time. Steve Jim, Jim and Doug finished the draw. We have been going to S.D. for 7 years. I have seen a lot of birds but never like this day.

The other highlight of the trip is the food at the cattleman’s restaurant they have the best prime rib. If you make a trip to Pierre make sure you stop in. you won’t be disappointed. This trip is a great way to relax, enjoy old and new friends, and spend some time with our four legged buddies. We would also like to thank Terry for his hospitality.

Pam & Mark Spurgeon
5200 Shattuck Road - Belvidere, Illinois 61008
815.547.9027
Email Crimson Sky Vizslas @ csvizslas@yahoo.com

Copyright © 2005-2008 - Pam & Mark Spurgeon - www.crimsonskyvizslas.com