Top Public Hunting Areas For Pheasants In South Dakota According To AI

This is the advice one AI tool gave me.....

Some of the best public access areas include:

1. Walk-In Areas (WIAs) in central South Dakota, particularly in:

• Hughes County
• Lyman County
• Hand County These areas consistently have high pheasant populations and good habitat.

2. Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) in the northeastern region:

• Marshall County
• Day County These offer excellent cover and are well-maintained for wildlife.

3. Game Production Areas (GPAs):

• The Fort Pierre National Grassland (Hughes/Stanley counties)
• The Grand River National Grassland (Perkins County) Both offer vast tracts of public land with strong pheasant numbers.

Key tips:

• Focus on areas with a mix of grassland, cattails, and agricultural fields
• The James River Valley region generally has excellent pheasant habitat
• Check the annual pheasant brood survey reports from SD Game, Fish & Parks for current population trends
• Get a Public Hunting Atlas from SD GFP for detailed maps

Top Public Pheasant Hunting Areas In Colorado

According to AI these are the Top Public Pheasant Hunting Areas In Colorado:

1. Northeast Colorado:

• Tamarack State Wildlife Area (Yuma County)
• Bonny State Wildlife Area (Yuma County)
• Jumping Mouse State Wildlife Area (Logan County) This region has a good mix of CRP lands, crop fields, and wetlands that attract pheasants.

2. Southeast Colorado:

• John Martin Reservoir State Wildlife Area (Bent County)
• Two Buttes State Wildlife Area (Baca County)
• Vilas State Wildlife Area (Baca County) The Arkansas River Valley in this area provides excellent pheasant habitat.

3. North-Central Colorado:

• Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area (Washington County)
• North Sterling State Wildlife Area (Logan County) These areas along the South Platte River corridor are known for good pheasant populations.

Key tips for Colorado:

• Focus on areas with a mix of grassy cover, crop fields, and riparian habitat along rivers/reservoirs
• Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife's annual small game reports for the latest pheasant population data
• More limited public land access compared to other Great Plains states
• Consider getting an on-demand small game access permit for some private lands
• Best hunting is typically mid-late season after crops are harvested
  

Best public access areas for pheasant hunting in Nebraska, according to AI

Here are the best public access areas for pheasant hunting in Nebraska:

1. Southwest Nebraska

• The McCook area, particularly:
  • Red Willow Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
  • Medicine Creek WMA
  • Swanson Reservoir WMA These areas have good CRP land and crop field edges.

2. South Central Region

• Rainwater Basin region, especially:
  • Sacramento-Wilcox WMA in Phelps County
  • Harvard WMA in Clay County
  • McMurtrey Marsh in Clay County These areas combine wetlands with upland habitat.

3. Northeast Nebraska:

• Knox County area:
  • Oak Valley WMA
  • Bohemia Prairie WMA
• The Lewis & Clark Lake area

Key tips for Nebraska hunting:

• Focus on edges between CRP grasslands and crop fields
• Look for Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program lands, which are private lands opened to public hunting
• Public access is more limited than South Dakota, so consider the Nebraska Public Access Atlas essential
• Best hunting is often near water sources and thick cover
• Later season can be better as crops are harvested

Remember that pheasant populations in Nebraska are generally lower than South Dakota, but these areas consistently produce birds.

Albert Lea MN Pheasant Hunt Nov 2 2024

Made a run to the Albert Lea area for an afternoon hunt.  We had hunted here on opening weekend and got one bird.  We started the day with 8 hen points and then Val bumped a rooster at 120 yds.... she was working a tailwind so I wasn't too upset.

Val was working some scent a ways off as I was trying to get Tasha to move in her direction... it ended up being a hen.  We started to work our way back to the truck and Val went on point.  This time the rooster held until I could get there to flush it and was able to take it in one shot.

As we got closer to the road the dogs were both working areas of scent and a nice big rooster got up and another single shot dropped him.

It was a good hunt.  A bit warm @ 55 degs but sun and a nice breeze.

 

Pheasant Hunting: South Dakota’s Best Public Lands | onX Hunt | Video

 

The excitement of pheasant season is back! Whether you're gearing up for your first hunt of the season or just looking for some pre-hunt inspiration, this 2023 adventure will get you in the zone. Join Lake Pickle, Ben Brettingen, and special guest Sam Soholt as they team up with their dogs to hunt a variety of properties and bring down roosters. 

In this video, we also introduce the PATH program (Public Access To Habitat), our collaboration with Pheasants Forever and the state of South Dakota. This initiative is opening up more public land, boosting local economies, and creating quality habitat for birds. 

Watch the trio in action as they navigate thick brush, encounter surprises like a buck, swap dogs (for some well deserved rest), and check out new hunting spots using onX Hunt maps. This 2023 pheasant adventure is full of great moments that will have you ready for your own hunt! Don’t miss out—hit play and follow along with us this season! #PheasantOpener #PheasantHunt #SouthDakotaHunting #onXHunt #PATHProgram #PheasantsForever #PublicLand #HuntingDogs