Dakotas Pheasants..need direction
 

Would like to put my setter (1 yr old) on some Dakota Pheasants...has anyone hunted public land in either state? Packed full of hunters? Any input would be great....
I just started doing research on outfitters but find it to be a bit pricey. Its a long trip from the NorthEast and wonder would it all be worth it?
Thanks

S Dakota is pheasant heaven. But you should probably try to find a reputable farmer to pay for a tresspass fee to make certain there will be a lot of birds. Public land might be tough and I believe there is a steel shot mandate on it, maybe.You can hunt the road side ditches, which is unusual but legal. Comming that distance, it would definitely pay to be set up in advance. It is a very hunter friendly state but you pay for it. Some years ago, I was set up in a group who paid $75.00 for the priviledge of hunting on a farmer who planted corn and soy beans and the hunting was great. Walk into a field and would see flocks of birds flying out the other end.
Worth it. Don't know about the pay hunts where they raise the birds. lots of outfitters.

Is it worth going to North Dakota, yes. The Dickinson area has sharptails, huns and pheasants. The PlOTs program opens up a lot of private ground to the public. There are also state wildlife areas. You will have to work for your birds, figure out what the birds are doing to avoid hunters and do something different. If I had the money I would go in a heart beat. make sure you and your dog are ready for the weather.

We were just out south of Dickinson 2 weekends ago, and literally jumped around 1000 birds out of some Plots. The day before that we saw ~200 birds, all on PLOTS. Only problem is they are flushing WILD, we ended up getting 10 birds. If the other guys were shooting right we would have had our 2 day limits :s5: