Should be a great trip. Just remember that archery success rates are pretty low, averaging about 23% over the past 10 years. Five or six years ago me and 3 buddies hunted with a rancher in Northwest SD. Three of us used trad gear. The rancher we hunted with was only a couple of miles from the Montana border, so 2 of us hunted Montana and 2 in South Dakota. Between the 4 of us we took 4 bucks and 2 does. The rancher had blinds set up over waterholes. If I was doing it DYI I would plan on at least 7 days. Hunt waterholes or fence crossings. Look for low spots on the fences as antelope crawl under the fences.
don't mean to be a total downer but the herd in that part of the country is way down. about four bad winter dieoffs, bad late spring blizzards when the herds are already winter weakened. hunted in harding county sept 2010 the rancher figured he had 30% of his herd left. seemed like further south fared better around belle fouche.
the harvest stats shows 16%, 13%, 16% for last three years with a larger %than usual being does. not saying don't go just saying these aren't the good old days in that area.
i'm no expert but would look as far south as i could,hunt smart and hard, 15% is a fighting chance good luck.
don't mean to be a total downer but the herd in that part of the country is way down. about four bad winter dieoffs, bad late spring blizzards when the herds are already winter weakened. hunted in harding county sept 2010 the rancher figured he had 30% of his herd left. seemed like further south fared better around belle fouche.
the harvest stats shows 16%, 13%, 16% for last three years with a larger %than usual being does. not saying don't go just saying these aren't the good old days in that area.
i'm no expert but would look as far south as i could,hunt smart and hard, 15% is a fighting chance good luck.
Thanks. I want a doe or buck, it does not matter to me. The trip with some new buds would make it all worth it
Nice trip. I'm going up to my wife's cousins ranch for a deer hunt during thanksgiving. Good luck. I'll be on the reservation. He keeps wanting me to kill a buffalo. I might do it.
Thanks. I want a doe or buck, it does not matter to me. The trip with some new buds would make it all worth it
good luck. nothing more satisfying than diy roadtrip sucess. if you get the chance ck. out custer state park, huge antelope bucks and a buffalo bull with a brand on his butt, WTH?
Comment