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You,ve got plenty of time to apply for a state tag.If you plan on hunting in the Black Hills,there is no application deadline.Use to be you could by a liscence over the counter out there,but now you must send in for one!If you want to hunt the prairie zones the application date is Feb.22 There isn't much public land in the prairie units that have much for turkeys,so knowing a land owner,or getting a guide may be your best bet for getting your bird.The Black Hills are getting hit harder every year,espically early in the season,but it's a big area with lots of land.Another option you may want to check into is maybe hunting on Indian lands.Their land is seperate from the state,and you don't need a state liscence,but you must have a liscence for the reservation your hunting on.Most of them you have to apply for a liscence,but at Standing Rock you could by them over the counter on your day of arrival.All the tribes have different season dates and application dates,but I don't think any are out yet.You can check out the S.Dakota state web page at www.state.sd.us/gfp

If hunting the reservations you'll want to contact them asap. Rosebud there is a drawing. Last year Rosebud went to hunters being required to use a native guide in order to hunt.

Pineridge did not allow any non native hunting for turkeys. Prior to last year you could buy liscenses the day you got there. So it may have change again this spring. I haven't heard anything yet.

Black Hills is no longer over the counter and is by drawing. But all those applying will get a liscense this year. You must however apply at least 10 days prior to your planned hunting trip. Their site says that applications will be available in late January. I've heard that it will likely be later than that. Probably March.

Best of luck! I just made lodging reservations today and didn't get the cabin I wanted for late April. So looks like folks are booking early.

Paintbrush,

You hunting out there this spring? We'll be there April 24-28 in the Hill City/Keystone area.

Borch , I sure wish I was going again , could I crawl in your hunting Bag untill you get there <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Kinda miss the place ...BT

Always room for you Adrian. Drop me a line if you can squeeze it in. I won't tell no one <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I talk to a freind in Rapid City, the turks have never had it better. Should be a good spring! As long as this weather holds.

Brian,

You'll want to use more agressive tactics while out west. Running and gunning is definitely the prefered method in the Black Hills. There is an unbelieve amount of public land and these birds seems to move a lot. I've been in spots with fresh dropping everywhere and the birds have already moved on. Not to return sometimes for a couple of days(no further fresh droppings or tracks). But then have found birds where sign is obviuosly days old. So if you don't find them go to another spot. As far as "necessary calls, a good box call and a crow call fit the bill. Both are great for locating these birds. A coyote howler can also be very effective. Other than that what ever trips your trigger. Definitely, order a national forrest map. This will mark most of the forest roads(they are adding new ones all the time). I believe the burn area from two summers ago will be open to hunting this year. Although I haven't heard for sure. With all the new grow this could be very good.

Best of Luck!

You hit the nai on the head Borch. Our radio collar studies show that these birds will move over 10 miles a day during the breeding season and will travel up to 40 miles to nest.

Old Dog Thats great info , that would have been a good question to post " How many miles do turkeys travel ?" Hmmmmm...BT