S Dakota

Don't know what to expect or how it all plays out.
Would love to play the game with a few birds and hope to bring home my first Merriams. Really looking for an enjoyable trip, great scenery, and make a few memories.
 
Although I've never hunted Rosebud myself, I've had several friends hunt it in years past. All were successful, some had to work HARD for their birds (nothing wrong with that tho)

Per them, birds are spotty... pockets with plenty of birds, then not another pocket for 5 miles. Your success or failure will depend directly on your Indian guide. Good ones will put you right in the middle of them, bad ones will show up hours late and lead you on wild goose chases.
 
Did you already apply for your black hills tag? Gotta have that!

I hunted the black hills last year at the end of the season. Absolutely beautiful, one of my favorite places I've ever hunted. Got on gobbling birds every day on private, but was only able to extract one onto public. Couldn't shoot him because he came straight to me and there was a cabin on private in my line of fire. Found 4 or 5 kill sites where birds had already been shot earlier in the season. The earlier you go the better, hands down. Numbers are WAY down in the Black Hills tho.
 
Never hunted Rosebud myself, but several buddies have mentioned the guides know next to nothing about turkey. Bring em a pack of cigarettes and a 5th of whiskey and sit their ass under a tree and go hunt.
 
762hunter said:
***UPDATE***
Have now extended the trip, after hunting Rosebud, I will be headed to the Black Hills for some additional sight seeing/Turkey harassment

With a little luck at least 1 will be headed back to TN with me
Click to expand...
Which part of the black hills are you planning on. North or south?
 
762hunter said:
Booked a cabin to stay outside Custer for a few days so starting down there.
Then headed up towards Deadwood.

Any advice?
Not just turkey wise but sight seeing wise as well?
Click to expand...
Make sure to take a stroll through Spearfish Canyon, also while in area don't skip over Crazy Horse I personally find it more fascinating than Mt. Rushmore. Wall Drug is a tourist trap but worth the stop just to say you've been. Badlands National Park and Devils Tower National Monument aren't too far away either and 100% worth seeing if your in the area.
 
762hunter said:
Booked a cabin to stay outside Custer for a few days so starting down there.
Then headed up towards Deadwood.

Any advice?
Not just turkey wise but sight seeing wise as well?
Click to expand...
I'll add;
Firehouse Brewery has a good Brown Ale and Bison Burger, if you hit a late snow storm then the Stout and Hearty will warm ya up, its a good warming stew. If you like good beer, stop at the new truck stop at the Cabelas exit in Rapid City, they have a liqour store and one heck of a beer selection. I recommend anything by Big Sky, specifically their brown ale...Moose Drool🤤.

Jewel Cave should be open, drive around and check out the damage from the Jasper fire circa 2000 which looks like it happened just yesterday (might even see elk),Custer State Park, a quick stroll through Deadwood, head up to Sturgis to see what its all about without the crowds (not much of nothing but its still a easy quick trip off the interstate). If your going to Devils Tower, take the route through WY then come back through MT/SD via Bell Fouche for different scenery.
 
megalomaniac said:
Did you already apply for your black hills tag? Gotta have that!

I hunted the black hills last year at the end of the season. Absolutely beautiful, one of my favorite places I've ever hunted. Got on gobbling birds every day on private, but was only able to extract one onto public. Couldn't shoot him because he came straight to me and there was a cabin on private in my line of fire. Found 4 or 5 kill sites where birds had already been shot earlier in the season. The earlier you go the better, hands down. Numbers are WAY down in the Black Hills tho.
Click to expand...
Yes I have applied online
 
TurkeyReaper69 said:
Make sure to take a stroll through Spearfish Canyon, also while in area don't skip over Crazy Horse I personally find it more fascinating than Mt. Rushmore. Wall Drug is a tourist trap but worth the stop just to say you've been. Badlands National Park and Devils Tower National Monument aren't too far away either and 100% worth seeing if your in the area.
Click to expand...
I had heard the drive from Deadwood to Spearfish Canyon is amazing

Thanks for the updates ya'll
 
megalomaniac said:
Did you already apply for your black hills tag? Gotta have that!

I hunted the black hills last year at the end of the season. Absolutely beautiful, one of my favorite places I've ever hunted. Got on gobbling birds every day on private, but was only able to extract one onto public. Couldn't shoot him because he came straight to me and there was a cabin on private in my line of fire. Found 4 or 5 kill sites where birds had already been shot earlier in the season. The earlier you go the better, hands down. Numbers are WAY down in the Black Hills tho.
Click to expand...
SD Black Hills tags are OTC.
 


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