http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/docs/PBR2017.pdf 2017 pheasant survey. Down 45% from last year and 65% down for the ten year average. And these #'s appear optimistic. It was a cold and wet early spring, then terrific hail storms in June in the south central part of the state, then drought in July. The Winner area especially hard hit with hail.
Apparently the hard winter followed by the drought-stricken summer was very hard on them. That said, there will be pockets of good numbers and then pockets with very few if any birds. However, even a bad year for SD has usually translated to a good to very good year elsewhere.
