Edmunds County Tribune -

Pheasant season is right around the corner! But if you are like me, you just can’t wait for that day to come. People always ask me if I like pheasant season. Pheasant season is probably the most enjoyable hunting season for me to work. It’s always fun to meet new people and visit with them about pheasant hunting. So many of these people don’t get to experience what we South Dakota folks get to experience. Most, not all, of these folks are happy to see me and visit with me. Let’s not forget that pheasant season is more about the people you are with then harvesting a limit of pheasants.

Youth pheasant season opened on October 6 and runs through October 10. Youth that are 12 years of age or will turn 12 years of age by Dec. 31 are eligible to hunt. Youth 12 through 17 years of age are allowed to hunt pheasants during the youth pheasant season. Both residents and nonresident youth are allowed to hunt. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an unarmed adult. Shooting hours for the youth season are 10 a.m. to sunset. The daily limit of three rooster pheasants applies.

The next pheasant season is the resident-only on public land season. Resident-only on public land starts October 13 and ends on Monday, October 15. All public land is open to hunting. Only road right-of ways that are contiguous to and a part of public land are open to hunting. Hunters should be aware that nontoxic shot is required on most public land. Shooting hours start at noon. Daily and possession limits apply.

The regular pheasant opener starts on October 20 and the season will run through January 6, 2019. All of South Dakota is open at this time except for a few Refuges. Daily and possession limits apply. Shooting hours from October 20 through October 26 are noon until sunset. From October 27 through the end of the season, shooting hours will be 10 a.m. to sunset.

The pheasant population looks to be making a climb back up again. The area has experienced a dry summer but some timely rains have helped in areas. Hopefully a late hatch after the pheasant counts were completed will surprise all hunters, myself included. Recent rains will make it tough for crops to come out by October 20, which will make pheasant hunting a little harder as well. Hunters should concentrate their hunting around sloughs and water areas.

Pheasant hunters looking to possibly harvest waterfowl may also have that opportunity if they choose. A three-day nonresident waterfowl license is available for McPherson, Edmunds, Campbell, Walworth, Faulk and Brown Counties. Nonresidents can pick the three-days they choose to hunt. Reminder these three-day licenses are for private land only. Nonresidents wanting to purchase a waterfowl license can go to a District Game, Fish and Parks office (Mobridge or Aberdeen) or can purchase one online by going to the Game, Fish and Parks website.