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I have a huge amount of respect for landowners who take their land management responsibilities seriously and consider the consequences of their actions beyond simply the size of their bank account. These men and women feed us and keep our environment healthy.”
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Bigger fish to fry
Lots to enjoy in a typical Dakota fall
September has rolled around again, and outfitters, private shooting preserve operators and tourism agencies are touting the highly successful pheasant hatch, as they have been since before the first egg was laid.
While I generally believe in the old maxim that you shouldn’ t count your chickens before they’ re hatched, this time they might be right. It’ s been years since I’ ve seen so many birds on my travels around the countryside, but take that with a grain of salt. Lately I’ ve been traveling more at sunrise and near sunset, prime times to see pheasants by the road. I’ ve also driven more miles than usual, and it’ s safe to assume that could account for more sightings. Lastly, I’ m relying on my memory, which is becoming more questionable as time goes by. Just ask my wife-- Lila or Linda or whatever her name is.( I’ m pretty sure it starts with an“ L,” so maybe it’ s Lucy or Lydia.)
I have no actual data to confirm my guess on pheasant numbers after a reasonably
Bill Antonides
nice winter and decent nesting season, and neither do outfitters or tourism officials. South Dakota quit doing the late summer pheasant brood count surveys because they didn’ t like the results in lean years. Perhaps a good year or two might convince them to start up again, as it was honestly some of the best and most important information they used to gather.
Above, Grey Hauge holds a lunker walleye that weighed in at 131 pounds as shown. It was closer to 10 oz. once he got the hook and fish separated from his sweater.( Photo by Brayden Bowman.)
Bottom, an example, one of many, of mining the land rather than thinking about topsoil loss, destruction of wetlands, destruction of habitat and diversity, and all that goes with planting crops on slopes where grasslands should be priority. Only the rockiest hilltops have been left alone, at least for now. Photos by the author.
Page 8, Dakota Country, September 2025 www. dakotacountrymagazine. com