2011 Pheasant Season Underway

The season is underway in South Dakota. According to the Outlook Report from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, the central part of the state is in good shape. And that’s where we are located. Here’s what Jeff Vonk, Secretary of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, had to say about our area.

“On the other hand, we were pleasantly surprised how well pheasants responded in central South Dakota, where abundant moisture from winter snow and spring rain allowed grasslands to flourish and provide the essential habitat for excellent pheasant production,” Vonk said.

The counts in the main pheasant range are similar to or higher than the counts in 2002 when hunters bagged 1.2 million pheasants. Pheasant hunters harvested 1.8 million pheasants in 2010.

We’ve already had a couple of parties who have done well, with more booked in. We’ll provide another report soon.

Mystic Prairie Partner Lodge Gets Initiated

As we mentioned earlier, Mystic Prairie now has a partner property available even if our main lodge is booked.

Our first group tried it out this past weekend. The group got its limit each day!

Photos are uploaded to an online photo album.

Mystic Prairie Opens Partner Property – Book Now

With the 2010/2011 Pheasant Hunting Season just around the corner, Mystic Prairie is excited to announce the opening of our first partner property, another great option in which to experience classic South Dakota wild pheasant hunting while enjoying first class accommodations.

This new lodge was built in 2009, and is situated just down the road from Mystic Prairie in the midst of over 500 acres of prime prairie switch grass habitat. Private guestrooms, fully stocked kitchen, satellite TV and quiet, peaceful surroundings are just part of this property’s charm.

For this inaugural season only, we are offering access to this new property at extreme discounts.

The following dates are available groups of 6 to 10:

October 29-30-31
November 5-6-7-8
November 13-14-15-16
November 19-20-21-22

To experience Classic South Dakota pheasant hunting with all the comforts of home at prices never to be seen again give us a call at 612-554-8078 .

2009 Pheasant Outlook

2009 is looking like another great year for pheasant hunting in South Dakota. You can see what the South Dakota Division of Wildlife thinks below:

Survey indicates another good year for S.D. pheasants

* The annual pheasant brood survey calculates “pheasants per mile” over 110 30-mile routes driven over a three week period in late July and early August. For details on how the brood route survey is conducted, click HERE.
* The 2009 statewide pheasant per mile index is down 26% from 2008 (8.56 to 6.32).
* 2009 will still have the fourth highest count in the past 45 years. South Dakota has harvested over 1 million pheasants each of the past 11 years, and close to 2 million the past four years. For a historical look at South Dakota pheasant statistics, click HERE.
* If you are interested in the full survey report, click HERE.
* To view the 10-year pheasant per mile index trends, broken down for each of the 13 areas of the state that are monitored, click HERE.

So, if you want to get in on some great action in the field give us a call you book your Mystic Prairie Hunting Experience.

Pheasantennial Underway

The 2008 Pheasant hunting season is on. Opening day of the “Pheasantennial” got off to a great start. This is the 100 year anniversary of pheasant hunting in South Dakota. Here’s an excerpt from the Argus Leader:

Losses in the stock market, a strangled credit market, talk of a recession, the high cost to travel – nothing, it seems, was going to stop in-state hunters and those from around the world from taking a shot at Phasianus colchicus, South Dakota’s state bird: the pheasant.

“You know, people may spend less on the alcoholic beverages or maybe a meal or two, maybe they didn’t buy a new shotgun this year, but hunting pheasant in South Dakota is a tradition, and nothing stops a tradition,” said Buddy Seiner, outdoor media representative for the state Tourism Office. “I know Aberdeen is booked for three weeks solid, Redfield is booked, Mitchell is booked, all the craziness coming into Sioux Falls. But for good reason – this year is going to be amazing.”

You can read more about the Pheasantennial here.