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Of The Outdoors: S.D., Neb. Hunting Seasons Still Going Strong
By Gary Howey
Hartington, Neb.
This is the time of the year when many outdoor activities are winding down while a few are still going strong.
Camping season is over and the cold weather has given many anglers a reason to put their boats away for the winter.
Don’t get in too big of a hurry to put your boat away as there’s still some excellent fishing out there! The fish will be moving into the deeper water to wait out the long hard winter months. Anglers will still have the opportunity to take some nice fish but they’ll have to fish deeper, slowing down their presentation and have a lot of patience as the bite isn’t going to be like it was when water temps were warmer.
Pheasant
The Pheasant seasons are still open in Nebraska and South Dakota. The South Dakota season closes on January 4th with the Nebraska season running through January 31st.
With the colder temperatures you’ll find the birds in larger flocks than they were during the early season. They’ll be hunkered down in the heavier cover staying out of the wind and cold.
Just like any other outdoor activity during this time of the year, while pheasant hunting, you’re going to have to slow down as it’s hard not being heard when you are walking on frozen ground, ice and grass. When they hear you coming, they’ll run ahead of you and unless you have wing men out to the side and blockers on the end of the field, many of them will get up out of range.
Birds this time of the year will hold tight hoping that you’ll walk past them, so walk slow, zigzagging your way through the field so that you can kick up those birds that might have moved off to the side. This allows you to cover a lot of area, covering as much of the field as possible.
Nebraska Deer Seasons
There are still several Nebraska Deer seasons open including the Archery season that runs through December 31st.
The statewide Muzzleloader season opens December 1st and runs through Dec. 31.
Both the Season Choice and the Landowners permits are good through Jan 15, 2009.
Reports coming into our office and from the field indicate that there have been some really nice bucks taken by both archery and rifle hunters, indicating that many of the hunters out there are using some sort of deer management program.
By allowing the smaller bucks to pass and harvesting excess does from the herd, it helps to bring the buck to doe ratio in there hunting areas in line, helping to assure that there will be quality deer hunting in the future.
S.D. Deer Seasons
There are still several deer seasons open with the South Dakota archery season open through January 31st
Those with East River Rifle permits can hunt through November 30th, while the antlerless season opens December 1st - 7th, reopening January 1st – 9th.
The West River Rifle deer season will reopen November 24th when the antlerless season opens and will run through November 30th when it closes until Jan. 1st when it’s opens running through the January 9th, 2009.
The statewide Muzzleloader season opens December 13th through January 31st 2009.
In Nebraska and South Dakota, there’s still a lot of deer hunting to be had for those hunters that don’t mind the cold weather.
Nebraska Waterfowl Seasons
The Nebraska Duck season in the High Plains Zone runs through Jan. 14, 2009 with the Lo Plains Zone runs through Jan. 4, 2009. (See Nebraska Game & Parks brochure for listing of the Zones and their locations).
The daily bag limit is 6 ducks which can include no more than 5 mallards with no more than 2 hens, 2 redheads, 2 wood ducks, or 1 pintail during the pintail season, 1 canvasback during the canvasback season, 1 scaup combined of lesser and greater, and 1 mottled duck. The limit for Mergansers is 5 daily, which may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers.
During the Fall Dark Goose season the limit is 3 Canada, Brant and all other goose species except white-fronted geese and those during the light goose season. The possession limit is 6 Canada geese.
The Niobrara, Platte River and Pan Handle Units are open through February 6th; the North Central Unit remains open through January 23rd and the East Unit staying open until Jan. 28th, 2009. (Refer to Nebraska Game & Parks brochure for exact location of each unit)
The White Fronted Goose season is open through December 21st with a daily limit of 2 geese and a possession limit of 4 White Fronts.
Those hunters that like to pursue Fall White Geese have the opportunity to hunt Snows; Blues and Ross’ geese until January 11th with the season reopening January 26th - February 6th. The daily limit for White geese is 20 with no possession limit.
S.D. Waterfowl Seasons
The South Dakota Duck season in the High Plains Zone, which is West River will run through Jan. 8, 2009 with the daily duck limit of 5 birds which may be comprised of no more than 2 Scaup, 2 Wood Ducks, 2 Redheads, 1 hen mallard, or 1 Pintail or 1 Canvasback.
The Low Plains—North Zone which is northeastern South Dakota is open through December 9th as is the Low Plains Middle Zone, which includes the rest of the state except for the Low Plains-South Zone (see below).
The Low Plains-South Zone located in the southeastern portion of the state runs along the Missouri River and the season in that area is open through Dec. 23.
During the Fall Dark Goose season the limit is 3 Canada Geese or any Goose species other than light Geese and White-Fronted Geese. The possession limit is 6 Canada geese.
There are three separate Goose units in the South Dakota, each having different season dates. Unit One is open through December 21st, Unit 2 through February 13th with Unit 3 opening Jan. 10, 2009 -- Jan. 18, 2009. (Refer to S.D. Game & Parks brochure for exact location of each unit)
The White Fronted Goose season is open through December 21st with a daily limit of 1 Goose and a possession limit of 2 White Fronts.
Those hunters that like to pursue Fall White Geese have the opportunity to hunt Snows; Blues and Ross’ Geese will have the opportunity to hunt White geese through December 31st. The daily limit for White Geese is 20 and there is no possession limit.
Ice Fishing
For those anglers that have been waiting patiently all year for the ice to form, your wait is almost over as ice is starting to form on the lakes up north and by mid December it looks as if those of you that want to travel into Northeastern South Dakota North Dakota and Northern Minnesota should be able to get out and punch a few holes.
Since all ice freezes differently, you’ll want to check the ice before heading out onto it to make sure it’s safe to travel on.
Although some outdoor activities may be winding down, there are still a lot of ways for you to get out and enjoy the outdoors, so take advantage of as many of them as you can as you can bet that I’ll be out there with you.
For more information on the outdoors, articles, videos and information on the outdoors go to www.outdoorsmenasventures.com
Gary Howey, Hartington, Neb.. is the Producer/Host of the Outdoorsmen Adventures television series, you can contact him at outdoorsmenproductions@hartel.net.
Camping season is over and the cold weather has given many anglers a reason to put their boats away for the winter.
Don’t get in too big of a hurry to put your boat away as there’s still some excellent fishing out there! The fish will be moving into the deeper water to wait out the long hard winter months. Anglers will still have the opportunity to take some nice fish but they’ll have to fish deeper, slowing down their presentation and have a lot of patience as the bite isn’t going to be like it was when water temps were warmer.
Pheasant
The Pheasant seasons are still open in Nebraska and South Dakota. The South Dakota season closes on January 4th with the Nebraska season running through January 31st.
With the colder temperatures you’ll find the birds in larger flocks than they were during the early season. They’ll be hunkered down in the heavier cover staying out of the wind and cold.
Just like any other outdoor activity during this time of the year, while pheasant hunting, you’re going to have to slow down as it’s hard not being heard when you are walking on frozen ground, ice and grass. When they hear you coming, they’ll run ahead of you and unless you have wing men out to the side and blockers on the end of the field, many of them will get up out of range.
Birds this time of the year will hold tight hoping that you’ll walk past them, so walk slow, zigzagging your way through the field so that you can kick up those birds that might have moved off to the side. This allows you to cover a lot of area, covering as much of the field as possible.
Nebraska Deer Seasons
There are still several Nebraska Deer seasons open including the Archery season that runs through December 31st.
The statewide Muzzleloader season opens December 1st and runs through Dec. 31.
Both the Season Choice and the Landowners permits are good through Jan 15, 2009.
Reports coming into our office and from the field indicate that there have been some really nice bucks taken by both archery and rifle hunters, indicating that many of the hunters out there are using some sort of deer management program.
By allowing the smaller bucks to pass and harvesting excess does from the herd, it helps to bring the buck to doe ratio in there hunting areas in line, helping to assure that there will be quality deer hunting in the future.
S.D. Deer Seasons
There are still several deer seasons open with the South Dakota archery season open through January 31st
Those with East River Rifle permits can hunt through November 30th, while the antlerless season opens December 1st - 7th, reopening January 1st – 9th.
The West River Rifle deer season will reopen November 24th when the antlerless season opens and will run through November 30th when it closes until Jan. 1st when it’s opens running through the January 9th, 2009.
The statewide Muzzleloader season opens December 13th through January 31st 2009.
In Nebraska and South Dakota, there’s still a lot of deer hunting to be had for those hunters that don’t mind the cold weather.
Nebraska Waterfowl Seasons
The Nebraska Duck season in the High Plains Zone runs through Jan. 14, 2009 with the Lo Plains Zone runs through Jan. 4, 2009. (See Nebraska Game & Parks brochure for listing of the Zones and their locations).
The daily bag limit is 6 ducks which can include no more than 5 mallards with no more than 2 hens, 2 redheads, 2 wood ducks, or 1 pintail during the pintail season, 1 canvasback during the canvasback season, 1 scaup combined of lesser and greater, and 1 mottled duck. The limit for Mergansers is 5 daily, which may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers.
During the Fall Dark Goose season the limit is 3 Canada, Brant and all other goose species except white-fronted geese and those during the light goose season. The possession limit is 6 Canada geese.
The Niobrara, Platte River and Pan Handle Units are open through February 6th; the North Central Unit remains open through January 23rd and the East Unit staying open until Jan. 28th, 2009. (Refer to Nebraska Game & Parks brochure for exact location of each unit)
The White Fronted Goose season is open through December 21st with a daily limit of 2 geese and a possession limit of 4 White Fronts.
Those hunters that like to pursue Fall White Geese have the opportunity to hunt Snows; Blues and Ross’ geese until January 11th with the season reopening January 26th - February 6th. The daily limit for White geese is 20 with no possession limit.
S.D. Waterfowl Seasons
The South Dakota Duck season in the High Plains Zone, which is West River will run through Jan. 8, 2009 with the daily duck limit of 5 birds which may be comprised of no more than 2 Scaup, 2 Wood Ducks, 2 Redheads, 1 hen mallard, or 1 Pintail or 1 Canvasback.
The Low Plains—North Zone which is northeastern South Dakota is open through December 9th as is the Low Plains Middle Zone, which includes the rest of the state except for the Low Plains-South Zone (see below).
The Low Plains-South Zone located in the southeastern portion of the state runs along the Missouri River and the season in that area is open through Dec. 23.
During the Fall Dark Goose season the limit is 3 Canada Geese or any Goose species other than light Geese and White-Fronted Geese. The possession limit is 6 Canada geese.
There are three separate Goose units in the South Dakota, each having different season dates. Unit One is open through December 21st, Unit 2 through February 13th with Unit 3 opening Jan. 10, 2009 -- Jan. 18, 2009. (Refer to S.D. Game & Parks brochure for exact location of each unit)
The White Fronted Goose season is open through December 21st with a daily limit of 1 Goose and a possession limit of 2 White Fronts.
Those hunters that like to pursue Fall White Geese have the opportunity to hunt Snows; Blues and Ross’ Geese will have the opportunity to hunt White geese through December 31st. The daily limit for White Geese is 20 and there is no possession limit.
Ice Fishing
For those anglers that have been waiting patiently all year for the ice to form, your wait is almost over as ice is starting to form on the lakes up north and by mid December it looks as if those of you that want to travel into Northeastern South Dakota North Dakota and Northern Minnesota should be able to get out and punch a few holes.
Since all ice freezes differently, you’ll want to check the ice before heading out onto it to make sure it’s safe to travel on.
Although some outdoor activities may be winding down, there are still a lot of ways for you to get out and enjoy the outdoors, so take advantage of as many of them as you can as you can bet that I’ll be out there with you.
For more information on the outdoors, articles, videos and information on the outdoors go to www.outdoorsmenasventures.com
Gary Howey, Hartington, Neb.. is the Producer/Host of the Outdoorsmen Adventures television series, you can contact him at outdoorsmenproductions@hartel.net.
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