The opening day of the 2022 traditional pheasant hunting season for residents is Saturday, with non-residents getting their chance on October 15.
Here’s what you need to know about fees, regulations, and more. Read it to get acquainted with the norms, traditions and even entertainment options in the Aberdeen area.
Welcome to the city, good luck, and most of all, enjoy the hunt!
How much do the licenses cost and where can I get them?
Cost: Small game licenses that include pheasants are $33 for residents. A one-day residential small game hunting license costs $12. A resident youth small game hunting license for hunters ages 12-17 costs $5. A $10 habitat stamp is also required for hunters over the age of 18 if this is the first hunting license purchased in 2022.
Non-resident small game hunting licenses cost $121 and are valid for two five-day periods. The two periods can be consecutive. A non-resident youth license costs $10. The habitat stamp costs $25.
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Resident combined small game and fishing licenses, which can also be used for pheasants, are $55 for adults and $40 for seniors 65 and older.
Licenses can be purchased online. A surcharge of $6 is charged for each license. For more information, visit gfp.sd.gov/hunt-fish-license/.
There are 280 registered license dealers in South Dakota. Licenses may be purchased at the following businesses within or outside the Brown County boundaries:
aberdeen
- Dunham’s, 3315 Sixth Ave. SE, Suite 300
- Ken’s SuperFair Foods, 2201 Sixth Ave. SE
- Kessler’s, 621 Sixth Ave. SE
- Corrections, 1815 Sixth Ave. SE
- Sodak Sport and Bait, 850 SUS Highway 281.
- Walmart, 3820 Seventh Avenue SE
Groton
- Ken’s SuperFair Foods, 4 EUS Highway 12.
Small game electronic licenses are accepted. To use one, log in to your GFP license account and take a screenshot.
When can pheasant hunting begin and what is the bird limit?
Pheasant season begins on Saturday and lasts through January 31, 2023. Shooting is allowed from 10 a.m. CST to sunset throughout the season.
Three rooster pheasants are allowed each day, with a possession limit of 15 roosters total, according to the GFP.
All public lands in South Dakota are open for hunting, with the following exceptions where pheasant hunting is only allowed in December and January:
- Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Brown County): December 12, 2022 – January 31, 2023
- Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge (Brown and Marshall Counties): December 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023
- Gerken Game Bird Refuge (Faulkton County): December 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023
- White Lake Game Bird Refuge (Marshall County): December 1, 2022 – January 31, 2023
The state’s Turn In Poachers hotline is 1-888-683-7224. Reports can be made anonymously. Informants are eligible for rewards.
What is the weather forecast?
The weather has been drier and warmer than normal, and the National Weather Service’s Aberdeen office says that’s likely to be the case for the first weekend of pheasant season.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Climate Prediction Center is projecting a slight chance of above-average temperatures and likely below-average precipitation on October 14-16.
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The average high temperature is forecast to be 61 on Friday and 59 on Sunday, with low temperatures averaging around 34 both days.
The normal high temperature in Aberdeen for this time of year is between 55 and 60, according to information from the NWS.
What is the outlook for the season?
The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks stopped conducting breeding studies in 2020.
Overall, though, spring and summer rains across much of the pheasant’s main range have provided lush, green habitat for nesting and breeding, according to an Upland Outlook compiled by the Department of Game, Fish and South Dakota Parks. With those spring conditions and mild winter conditions, pheasant populations have traditionally responded positively.
Thousands are expected to arrive in the coming weeks to hunt pheasants. Tourism is one of the leading industries in South Dakota, and in the northeastern part of the state, pheasant hunting is a major attraction. Last year, 126,961 resident and nonresident hunters caught 1,067,423 pheasants statewide, according to GFP data.
The five counties with the highest reported harvests were Beadle, Brown, Brule, Lyman and Tripp. In total, resident and nonresident hunters spent approximately $246.8 million.
Maps and apps show public hunting areas
Maps showing public access hunting areas are available on the GFP website at gfp.sd.gov/maps. Smartphone apps are also available for Android and iPhone. Search for “SD GFP Outdoors” in the respective stores to download the app.
Bright orange is recommended but not required
The law does not require the use of bright orange on the field. However, it is strongly recommended so that the hunters can be easily spotted by others.
No trespassing on private land
It is illegal to hunt on private land without a permit. Violators could be charged with trespassing. Pheasants can be shot by hunters in most highway rights-of-way. Right-of-way hunters must be on foot. Birds must have taken flight from inside or be flying over the right of way. A pheasant shot in a right-of-way that falls onto private land can be retrieved on foot. Hunters may not unload firearms from vehicles.
Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition offers incentives for walk-in program enrollment
A group of local businesses and organizations, spearheaded by Pheasants Forever North South Dakota Chapter #77, provides financial incentives for landowners to enroll land in the US Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Reserves Program. USA and the public walk-in program GFP. Land enrolled in both programs is added to public access maps.
Entertainment and events in the Aberdeen area during pheasant season
A variety of entertainment options are available this weekend for hunters visiting the Aberdeen area. Here’s a look at local events:
October 14th
- Fall Shootout and Hunters Social: 5-10 pm at City Lights Bar and Events Center. The event is sponsored by Pheasants Forever and features raffles, games, live and silent auctions. Admission is free. Food is available for purchase.
- Aberdeen Elks Lodge Entertainment: 6-10 pm Aberdeen Elks Lodge No. 1046, 705 Circle Drive. Steak dinner at 6 pm, followed by David Redfield Entertainment.
- Northern Theater presents ‘First Date’: 7:30 pm Johnson Fine Arts Center, Southeast 12th Avenue and South Arch Street. $10 “First Date,” written by Austin Winsberg with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, follows Aaron and Casey on their first blind date at a trendy New York restaurant.
October 15th
- SD Holistic Fair: 10 am to 3 pm at the Best Western® Ramkota Convention Center, 1400 Eighth Ave. NW. Vendor and guest speaker event designed to share knowledge on supporting the mind, body and spirit. Admission is $5.
- Craft Market: 11 am to 4 pm The Dakota Event Center, 720 S. Lamont St. Free. The Handmade Market is a vendor’s market selling one-of-a-kind handmade items, repurposed furniture, farmers’ market produce, home decor, and much more.
- 10th A Walk to Remember 2022: 5-8 pm Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1620 Milwaukee Ave. NE Free. A healing event for parents, family and friends who have lost a baby to miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death or SIDS.
- Northern Theater presents ‘First Date’: 7:30 pm Johnson Fine Arts Center, Southeast 12th Avenue and South Arch Street. $10 “First Date,” written by Austin Winsberg with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, follows Aaron and Casey on their first blind date at a trendy New York restaurant.
October 16
- Northern Theater presents ‘First Date’: 3 pm Johnson Fine Arts Center, Southeast 12th Avenue and South Arch Street. $10 “First Date,” written by Austin Winsberg with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, follows Aaron and Casey on their first blind date at a trendy New York restaurant.