Hunting Pheasant in South Dakota

Season Dates

License Prices

Pheasant Outfitters

Pheasant Density

The pheasant came to South Dakota in 1908 when a group of farmers purchased a pair of birds from an Oregon farm and released them into a field near Redfield.

The hearty pheasant not only survived but thrived on the prairie, prompting the state to purchase and release 48 additional pairs of birds. In 1919, the pheasant population was high enough for the state to hold a one-day pheasant hunting season.

Over a century later, the combination of habitat, wildlife management and fortunate weather patterns have made South Dakota a pheasant haven and a world-class hunting destination.

Take a look around at the tools and information on the left to find Season Dates, License and Application Requirements and much more.

South Dakota Pheasant Hunting

The Ring-necked Pheasant is the state bird of South Dakota, one of only three US state birds that is not a species native to the United States.

It is a well-known gamebird, among those of more than regional importance perhaps the most widespread and ancient one in the whole world. The Common Pheasant is one of the world's most hunted birds; it has been introduced for that purpose to many regions, and is also common on game farms where it is commercially bred. Ring-necked Pheasants in particular are commonly bred and were introduced to many parts of the world; the game farm stock, though no distinct breeds have been developed yet, can be considered semi-domesticated.

The birds are found in woodland, farmland, scrub and wetlands.. In its natural habitat the Common Pheasant lives in grassland near water with small copses of trees. Extensively cleared farmland is marginal habitat that cannot maintain self-sustaining populations for long. Pheasants are gregarious birds and outside the breeding season form loose flocks. Wherever they are hunted they are always timid once they associate humans with danger, and will quickly retreat for safety after hearing the arrival of hunting parties in the area.

While Common Pheasants are able short-distance fliers, they prefer to run. If startled however, they can suddenly burst upwards at great speed, with a distinctive "whirring" wing sound and often giving "kok kok kok" calls to alert conspecifics. Their flight speed is only 27 to 38 mph when cruising but when chased they can fly up to 60 mph.

And if you already have plans to hunt pheasants in South Dakota, or have been here before, stop by our Galleries, Forums or Blog to get the latest scoop on the bird population and weather forcast for the 2010 South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Season.

South Dakota Pheasant & Pheasant Hunter Densities 2009