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Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

Headed out Sunday for a tour at the "Birddog Bunkhouse".

It's been several years since I've walked in that fine State, is there anything that I should consider as I pack-up for that adventure? It's my understanding that everything I'll be hunting is on public land. Any trick to that or points to consider before I set off? Any ammo restrictions or trespass requirements that I need to be aware of?

Each State seems to have their own specific requirements now and it takes me a while to adapt and then to learn all the finer points. I love discovering new grounds to hunt and explore so this will be great fun.

I hope my old pickup has one last, long trip in it.

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1139

I just returned from my first trip to the "Birddog Bunkhouse" and was not surprised by much except all the eating establishments were closed with the Cenex convenience store the only place to get food on Sunday. The grocery store is well stocked and you should find just about anything you need there.

If you are bringing dogs, you should consider how you intend to keep them as the kennels are unheated as is the garage. We had single digit temps for several days and I resorted to a small electric heater in my camper shell with Mud River insulated covers on the dogs' crates. I had a 100 foot extension cord that gave me power from the garage.

The walk in areas and game production areas have some birds, but they are well educated by now and tend to flush way out resulting in most shots being hail Maries at 50 yards plus. I ran my dogs through several walk in areas without getting up a single bird while watching birds flying all over adjacent cut corn fields. The most productive hunting was the road ditches which are legal in SD, just don't shoot from your truck.

On ammo restrictions, the game production areas require non-toxic shot. I used Kent Bismuth #5 for those areas and Fiocchi Golden Pheasant #5 for the rest of my hunting.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

Riflemeister:

Thankyou for that invaluable information. I was a little concerned about getting there at such a late date (for a number of reasons) and what you've told me kind-of confirms my suspicions. I can work-around all of that and will hopefully learn a few things.

Appreciate it.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

After consulting with the weather folks (& considering what I think I already know) my vision for my days up there this coming week has changed just a bit. I had considered taking a nice light upland 16-gauge for the occasion... but now I'm thinking more heavy 12s (& in various forms). My elk hunting clothing (which hasn't been put away just yet) will also likely accompany me for this endeavor. This should be quite the adventure.

Good luck and can't wait to hear how you get on , we had a storm here this weekend so no outings for us .
All the best WJ.

Looks like good pheasant hunting weather to me.

https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/sd/pierre

Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 227

For a great dinner you have to go to Bob’s steak house off of 212.Have a great time and post some pictures.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

Mr. Corso, thank you for that. I will try to do both.

Go across and get a tribal tag , hunt around lake on the east side of the reservation.

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

Well, back at home after quite an adventure.

It'll take me a few days to get caught up here (Christmas chores were waiting for me) but all-in-all I had a wonderful time. Considering that I went up there completely "cold" (not knowing anything about the hunting there or the lodging circumstances) I got to meet a bunch of truly lovely folks who helped me to adapt to the South Dakota "mode-of-operation" and then I got to walk some truly-spectacular country. Talk about a "game-rich" place, the numbers and types of gamebirds there staggers the imagination. While I didn't exactly set any records as far as my "bag" was concerned, I didn't get skunked either & I'll know how to better approach it next time.

As a "thank-you" to Bobby Lowe here, I found the accommodations to be quite comfortable and the suggested areas to hunt were all productive. It's a really nice way to experience that part of the world and I'd certainly go back and try it again. Looking forward to next Fall already.

Mr. Hammack: I would certainly consider hunting on the Reservation (I could see it across Lake Oahe from two of the places we hunted). How is that accomplished?

You were across from the Cheyenne Reservation, you simply go down to the tribal headquarters , purchase a tribal tag and hunt on tribal lands , you can hunt on state land on the reservation with a state tag .

Lots of good hunting on both reservations.

Regards Nick

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

Nick:

Thank you for that.

I'm embarrassed to ask this but where does one cross the river/reservoir closest to the Rez Headquarters and are they as...looking for the right words here, "relaxed" concerning access, road hunting, and gun transport?

Not complaining, mind you, it just felt like I'd gone back in time about 40-years. Also, IIRC Standing Rock requires non-tribal folks to have a native "guide" to accompany them while hunting. Is that not an issue here?

Joined: 17 Jan 2014 Posts: 1477 Location: Denver, Colorado

From over the door at the bunkhouse:

[url=https://imgur.com/Z0hOXVi]

[/url]

Seems to be a defining point for the proprietor, which I find to be quite lovely.

Merry Christmas Folks!

Joined: 04 Apr 2018 Posts: 41 Location: ESKY

[quote="Lloyd3"]From over the door at the bunkhouse:

[url=https://imgur.com/Z0hOXVi][img]http://i.imgur.com/Z0hOXVih.png[/img][/url]

Seems to be a defining point for the proprietor, which I find to be quite lovely.

Merry Christmas Folks![/quote]

I took that picture also, I use for my phone wallpaper.

Merry Christmas

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 1139

Just before I made my journey to the "Bird Dog Bunkhouse" this year I had to put down my 15 year old GSP, Bode. I could not look at that sign without choking up, but felt it was put there specifically for me and Bode. I really miss that old warrior.