Group of Pheasant hunters
South Dakota Pheasant Hunting

The Greatest Thrill

It's the cackle of a rooster. The rush of the flush. The tailgate talks at the end of the field and the stories at the end of the day. A hunt in the world's greatest pheasant country is a thrill like no other.

See how easy it is to experience it for yourself.

HUNT IN SD

What Makes South Dakota the Greatest?

The habitat and hospitality. A healthy mix of cropland and prairie creates the ideal pheasant habitat. The proof is in the results: more than 1 million roosters have been harvested in 17 of the past 20 years. We have the most birds in the country, but the fun goes beyond the field—no place caters to hunters like South Dakota.

Visit South Dakota and you’ll be in the for most thrilling and unforgettable bird hunts of your life. Get your ticket to outdoor adventures with a South Dakota small game license. The 2022 pheasant season begins Saturday, October 15.

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Tailgate Talks

Everyone hunts for a different reason. The habitat, the company, the rush of the flush – it’s all part of the great South Dakota experience.

Female pheasant hunter in a field

Erica Hill

Pheasants Forever representative Erica Hill talks conservation and why she’s passionate about preserving habitat.

Father and daughter pheasant hunters

Sargent Family

Spending time with the people you’re closest to: that’s what hunting the greatest is all about.

Planning Tools

Planning Tools

Whether you’re looking for a guided lodge experience or a public land adventure, we’ve got the resources to get you started. 

Pheasant Hunting
Public Hunting Areas
Pheasant Hunting
Season Information
Pheasant Hunting
Region Breakdowns
Pheasant Hunting
Lodge & Guided Hunts
Pheasant Hunting
Beginner Resources
recipie
Pheasant Recipes
Pheasant with a hunter blurred out in the background
FAQs
Frost covered cattails at sunrise
Late Season Hunts
World's Largest Pheasant statue
Small town experiences
hunting
Two pheasant hunters in the field

 

“The people here are really special. That’s what makes the hunt. I have repeat hunters who say they’ve never met a rude person in South Dakota. Then, of course, we have the habitat. So it’s the people and the birds that really make our state special.”

Steve Halverson, owner of Halverson Hunts

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Young woman pheasant hunting

 

“I love South Dakota pheasant hunting because it’s one of the most adrenaline rushing hunts you can go on. There’s the excitement of birds getting up right to you – and there’s the chance to make memories with your favorite people. I love it.”

Grace Sargent, pheasant hunter

hunting
Older male pheasant hunter walking in field with riffle

 

“I love spending time with my kids outdoors. And pheasant hunting is a great way to do it. They can take a shot and miss, and that's okay, but the fun part is putting them in a position where they can be successful.”

Doug Sargent, pheasant hunter

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Young woman pheasant hunting

 

“For me it's really getting out into the field. It's the sun bathing over the landscape and the way the adrenaline hits you when a bird flushes. It's all of those experiences in the field for me, that really make me love it.”

Erica Yost, Pheasants Forever

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What should you expect on a South Dakota Outdoor Adventure? See for yourself at #SDinthefield

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