Bird Dogs Afield host Paul Fuller is the gun dog columnist for Northwoods Sporting Journal. The Journal has granted permission to re-print Paul’s articles. Thank you Northwoods Sporting Journal.
It's South Dakota for Pheasants
So many flushes; I didn’t know which way to point the camera. That describes a recent filming trip to South Dakota. I was filming for my TV show…Bird Dogs Afield TV.
Although your columnist is known primarily as a pointing dog enthusiast, I’ve felt in the past, and even more so today, that high volume pheasant hunting is best left to the flushing dog fraternity. And that’s exactly what I filmed in South Dakota; high volume pheasant hunting with yellow Labrador retrievers.
Jesse Wright of Jim River Ranch (www.jimriverranch.com) had been inviting me to Redfield, South Dakota to film a classic South Dakota pheasant hunting operation. I accepted Jesse’s invitation and headed to South Dakota the first week in December. I flew into Aberdeen which is about 45 minutes from the Ranch. When you enter the airport in Aberdeen, you know immediately you’re in pheasant country. There are signs and banners throughout the airport welcoming hunters.
Pheasant hunting is a big industry in South Dakota. Thousands of non-resident hunters come to this magical state every fall and spend millions of dollars on travel, food and lodging. It is truly the pheasant capital of the United States.
After a 45 minute drive to the Ranch, I was greeted by Doug Wright, Ranch Manager. Doug showed me to my quarters and then we met with Preston Jones, head guide, dog trainer and all-around sharp guy. Doug and Preston explained that they had two different hunting scenarios lined up for me for the next three days. I would be filming two hunters for two days and then a large group of 15 hunters were arriving and the standard “push and block” technique would be used. I was anxious to see both methods.
That evening, just before dark, I traveled a few of the roads around the Ranch. I saw dozens and dozens of pheasants flying from feeding fields to roosting fields. I knew then I was in for something good.
The next morning, Doug and Preston took on the role of hunters and off we went with two of Preston’s fine Labs. We began with a narrow tree line and were into birds immediately. In fact, flush after flush after flush. And, retrieve after retrieve after retrieve…all to hand. Doug and Preston had their limit rather quickly so it was a short day. I spent the afternoon touring the little town of Redfield and eating lunch at Leo’s Diner.
The next day was almost a repeat of the first day…except Preston’s father, Jim, took Doug’s place in the field. If there is a down side to hunting only two guns, it’s that the pheasants pour out the far end of a tree line since there are no blockers. However, there is still plenty of shooting for just two hunters.
For my last day at Jim River Ranch, I filmed a truly classic high-volume pheasant hunt. Fifteen hunters arrived at the Ranch the previous evening. Most of them were from either Oregon or Washington. The day began with breakfast and then a safety briefing from Preston. The group was then loaded into the Ranch bus and taken to a cornfield. Preston lined up the pushers, the flankers and the blockers. Once everyone was in position, he released five Labrador retrievers and everyone began moving up the cornfield. The action was non-stop…pheasants flushing in every direction. And, all positions, whether pushers, flankers or blockers, were getting good shooting.
And, those retrievers never lost a bird.
If you’re looking for a high-volume wild bird pheasant hunt, then contact Jesse Wright at Jim River Ranch (www.jimriverranch.com). The ranch house is very comfortable, meals outstanding and pheasants aplenty.
This story wouldn’t be complete without recognition of South Dakota as an outstanding vacation destination. Visit South Dakota once and you’ll have the itch. Travel across this beautiful state and you’ll see farm and ranch land, native prairie, mountains, lakes and rivers. In fact, tourism is the second largest industry in South Dakota. But don’t worry about crowds. This state is 77,000 square miles with only 844,000 residents. Go to www.travelsd.com for more information on visiting South Dakota. For more information on hunting in South Dakota, go to gfp.sd.gov.
Your author is looking forward to a return to South Dakota in 2015.
Paul Fuller is host of Bird Dogs Afield TV, which may be seen in the Greater Boston area on WBIN (Comcast Ch. 18) Fox 21 in Duluth, MN and Fox 23 in Portland beginning in November and running through December. Previous TV broadcast episodes, and dozens of training and hunting videos and Paul’s previous Sporting Journal columns may be seen or read on Paul’s website which is www.birddogsafield.com. Paul may be contacted at paul@birddogsafield.com.