Your group will then be transferred to the lodge in a comfortable SUV, which is about an hour drive due north from the airport. Once at the lodge your hosts, the Nelson Family, will get you situated in your room and go over the hunting program for the next few days. Feel free to wander around and get yourself acquainted, including a round or two on sporting clay course, some billiards, or just rest up from the flight. This is also a good time to make sure your shotgun is in good shape or reserve one of Paul Nelson Farm’s fine inventory of shotguns at no charge."
"“Typical Hunting Day”"
"These will be three full days of hunting. Each morning you will receive a wake up call around 8:00 a.m. A full breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m. and we normally meet at the locker room to load your group’s personal bus and leave for the hunt at 10:00 a.m. Each group normally has their own vehicle and guides usually on a 2-1 or 3-1 basis (hunter to guide). You will hunt on Paul Nelson Farm’s privately owned and dedicated land which is an exclusive habitat managed for wild life. Our predominant hunting style is with Lab’s using the Walker and Blocker technique. Depending on the number of hunters in your group, one or more persons are assigned to act as blockers that stand strategically at one end of the field while the remaining line of guns at the opposite end start walking with the dogs towards the blockers. The idea is to sort of drive the pheasant towards the blockers ending in a fast and furious eruption of pheasant. Please roosters only!!!
Get ready to see hundreds of wild birds every day boiling out of the food plots. The dog work and availability of quality fields make this an exciting hunt and usually most everyone has their 5 bird limit by lunch, if not you will head back to the fields until you reach your limit. Your options after that are to agree to hunt extra birds at the current price or to go after some Huns, Sharpies or Prairie chickens. There is some walking involved with these upland birds but what fun."
The hunting day usually draws to a close by 4:30- 5:00 PM when the sun is setting and the muscles are looking for a break After a shower and some rest, hors’d'oeurves and your favorite spirits are available until your incredible dinner is served at 7:30 PM.
"“It’s all about the Dogs”"
A true South Dakota pheasant hunt is not a hunt without the dogs. There’s a special relationship that exists between a bird hunter and his gun dog. Gun dogs are always ready to go, always striving to please, and the magical moments they create in the field surpass any ‘bragging rights’ shot you’ve ever made (or may ever make!). Yours or ours, good gun dogs add another important dimension to the overall experience and if you would like to bring your dog, no problem.
Paul Nelson Farm has cultivated thousands of birds on thousands of acres. Oceans of CRP type grasses, sloughs and wetlands, and just enough food plots to make it all very interesting for your partner with the great nose. Labs, Shorthairs, Spaniels and Setters are all display there’s plenty of breed specific habitat to keep both dog and owner entertained for days.
While Paul Nelson Farms welcomes your dogs, they suggest you spend the resources needed to familiarize your dog with upland hunting. It must be noted that pheasant would rather run than allow itself to be held on point!!
After breakfast, you will settle up, say your goodbyes and depart back to Pierre for your flight home.
