Been wanting to do this for years so going to make it happen this year.

Anyone have an outfit they recommend for great hunting for me and the boy? Wanting something all inclusive (lodging/meals/etc). Will probably be set up for a week or so before Christmas.

I know those two states are popular for ringnecks but would consider others. Found some interesting places online but would prefer first hand knowledge.

Thanks!

You might check the Upland forum. Some of those guys seldom check this forum.

Bill's right, but they are an "uppity" bunch over there.

I went with Biggins in Gregory, SD last November. Good hunt. PM me if you want more details. Have fun, wherever you choose.

S.D.

I think that Oxner guy is the most uppity of the whole group

Jim River Ranch, Redfield SD. Been there with fathers and sons and Jesse does a great job.

if your hunting a preserve type, just make sure its got alot of acres and the lodge is up to your standard.

State doesn't matter to much unless your chasing wild/public birds. I'd suggest whatever you find closest within budget. Alot of places put out fancy packages for hunters.

I don't think guides can "guide" on public land so if you don't have a dog it would be alot of walking....

https://www.bigkansasoutdoors.com/

John Shue is one of their guides, hes from TX, they have some nice hunts.

Wild birds, definitely S.Dak.....Kansas lost up to 90% of their pheasant population several years ago from drought (Dodge City area, not sure about north central or northwest areas). Some of the birds have come back but still not a good population for hunting. On a good note, in the ‘comeback’ a bunch more quail have shown up around Dodge.

Only been up once to North Dakota. We hunted sharpies and Huns. More sharpies than Huns. The sharpies would flush just before we got there. The Huns held like bobwhite quail. My friend and I flew up. Another group drove up from Kansas. That group road hunted their way back home.

South dakota is majority planted birds.

We only hunted wild birds. It was free.

Best advice I can give, hunt placed birds Thur and Fri, hunt wild birds Sat and Sun and, then placed birds Mom and Tues.

You can hunt planted birds in Texas.

Yes, we were really wanting wild birds. I can hunt planted birds within an hour from home.

I appreciate the leads. I've got some research to do.

SD wild birds are amazing. Just look at the pictures the guide provides. If there are hens in the pictures, they aren't wild.

I don't get traveling up there for planted birds. I know several guys who do it and think they are really hunting.

Christmas time in SD is gonna be COLD. If my timeline is around Christmas I would go to Kansas.

Don’t be scared of wild vs released if it’s from a bigger outfit with lots of acreage.

Basically extends your limit, and most time you won’t know different unless you have hunted heavily pressured birds before. You are going to have a fun hunt and bring back excellent table fair.

Either could be a crap shoot with weather near Christmas time.

By Christmas They will be ice fishing in SD.

It’s the wind that’s make or break. It can be 10 and still not bad, toss in 20 mph wind then it’s bad.

I’ve hunted Pheasants in Okla at -8 around Christmas. That was bad.

Kansas south wind always blow harder than you'd like 20 years ago I would have said Kansas is best but now I'm not sure it's been too long between hunts.

You can shoot pen raised pheasant at Top Flight near Coulmbus.

Pheasants Galore, Sublette Kansas

I have hunted both wild and release birds several times near Winner, SD and I could not tell the difference. Its much different than wild quail v pen quail, and I do not care for pen quail hunts. Hunt both as someone above suggested is a great idea. good luck and have fun.