sman
Senior Member
Glynn Maddox, my dad, and I made a trip up to South Dakota to hunt the Black Hills. There was a ton of snow already on the ground and a snow storm by the name of Zeus hit our first full day there. It dumped probably between 12-18" inches of snow on us. We had to abondon the Hills and make a trip Southeast for Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Glynn was able to take a nice tom before we did though.
The hunting was tough and the snow made the terrain really challenging. If you want to hunt the Hills go in May. If you decide to hit Pine Indian Reservation let me tell you that you can't go wrong. Even with the terrible weather and the fact that we didn't get to start hunting until 10am we saw tons of birds. They had gotten back into their winter groups which made it tough but man they were there. If you go let me help you out some. First the permit office is in Kyle, SD and their number is 605-455-2530. A guide is required. He doesn't hunt with you, just takes you to areas where he knows the birds are. We had a great one by the name of Lance. His number is 605-454-3503. There is one motel in Kyle and it has a restaurant. The owners brother is named Randy and he guides as well. We met two hunters there that had just gotten a bird. They said they had a flock of over 125 come into their set up.
The best I had was 2 strutters in a creek bottom at 60 and I called a flock of 20-30 birds in from another hill side and my birds left. But it was awesome watching 7 birds strutting and gobbling like crazy at 125 out on the side of snow covered pasture. Hunt of a lifetime. Glynn and I, both were able to take birds. Dad got close but his knee and hearing held him back a little. The full story of the hunt is on GSN. Here are some of the pics though.
The hunting was tough and the snow made the terrain really challenging. If you want to hunt the Hills go in May. If you decide to hit Pine Indian Reservation let me tell you that you can't go wrong. Even with the terrible weather and the fact that we didn't get to start hunting until 10am we saw tons of birds. They had gotten back into their winter groups which made it tough but man they were there. If you go let me help you out some. First the permit office is in Kyle, SD and their number is 605-455-2530. A guide is required. He doesn't hunt with you, just takes you to areas where he knows the birds are. We had a great one by the name of Lance. His number is 605-454-3503. There is one motel in Kyle and it has a restaurant. The owners brother is named Randy and he guides as well. We met two hunters there that had just gotten a bird. They said they had a flock of over 125 come into their set up.
The best I had was 2 strutters in a creek bottom at 60 and I called a flock of 20-30 birds in from another hill side and my birds left. But it was awesome watching 7 birds strutting and gobbling like crazy at 125 out on the side of snow covered pasture. Hunt of a lifetime. Glynn and I, both were able to take birds. Dad got close but his knee and hearing held him back a little. The full story of the hunt is on GSN. Here are some of the pics though.
Attachments
Last edited:
