Experts Journal

South Dakota is home to more than 7 million pheasants and is consistently the best state in the country for bird counts and harvests. In 2021, the traditional season opens on October 16 and runs through January 31, 2022.

Take your wild game and turn it into wildly satisfying jerky. Making your own jerky from game meat not only saves money but also frees up space in your freezer, since packaged jerky takes up less room than unprocessed game meat.

Many of you have asked which month you should go on your first elk hunt. In Western states, elk seasons can run anywhere from August to January. When you go will have a big impact on your style of hunting as tactics change from one week to the next. For instance, calling works very well during the rut, but it may not work at all once rifle seasons begin.

Sage grouse are symbols of the unique and diverse habitat of the American West. These upland birds make their home in the sagebrush, as do 350 other species and thousands of ranchers who rely on Western rangelands for their agricultural operations.

When summer fades away and is replaced with cool autumnal weather, many anglers hang up their waders in favor of other outdoor pursuits. But don’t let challenging conditions steer you away from fishing in the fall. There are still lots of fish to be caught and the transitioning scenery, pleasant weather and dwindling crowds make it a great time to be on the water.