SD Weather and Game

[Nulle]

Western SD is burning up with no snow or rain and now we have a Forest Fire "already" and I was on that till 2am . This dry conditions will effect turkey and grouse nesting in the West for sure.
Eastern part of South Dakota has again seen pretty good moisture and should have another very good pheasant hatch if it continues.

[gspsonny03]

I hear you there Nulle. I think Wyoming is in for another dry one too. Hardly any snow pack this past winter and they keep predicting rain, but we never get any. Looking bad already.
How bad was the fire? I heard bits and pieces on the radio, but never heard how big it was. You be safe out there.

[Nulle]

On the fire the last I heard was little under 1,000 acres but things look better this AM as we are getting a "little" light rain.

[M.T. Pockets]

I'm in Western MN near the SD border and the pheasant populations are good here, great in SD. Very mild winter and some good rains last week. I'm not sure how far west into the South Dakota the moisture goes but I think East River should have a good hatch.

[Nulle]

Well I am in Aberdeen today and from what I have heard we got 2" at least in western SD while I was gone. Things look good here and pheasants all over the place.
It was a good convention and walked out of there with the South Dakota State Animal COntrol Officer of 04 award lol.

[BILLY D.]

HEY PARDNER

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD.

AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW IT'S DRIER THAN POPCORN FLATULENCE HERE IN NO. DAK. HAD A MILD WINTER. HARDLY ANY BELOW ZERO TEMPS. VERY UNUSUAL I'M NOT A RAIN FAN BUT EVEN I KNOW WE NEED IT. LAKES ARE SEMBLENCES OF THEIR FORMER SELVES. I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE FISHERIES. PECK. OAHE AND SAKAKAWEA ARE IN DIRE STRAITS. BUT WE GOT BARGE TRAFFIC IN MISSOURI.GRRRR. KIND OF A SORE POINT IN THESE PARTS.

WELL HAVE A GOOD ONE. ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATS.

[Nulle]

I hear you on the river water and we have the same problem down here with "their" regulating of it.
We have a new critter moving into the Eastern part of the State, Posssums.? I guess they are all over the place and I saw a dead one on the road South of Aberdeen on the way up. You getting any of these in North Dakota. From what the Eastern ACOs tell me they do not handle the winters well with frost bit ears ect.

[BILLY D.]

HI

HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT 'POSSUMS. THATS INTERESTING THOUGH. NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT I DON'T EVER REMEMBER SEEING ONE HERE AT ALL.

ONE THING I DO NOTICE IS THE LACK OF JACK RABBITS. THERE USED TO BE HERDS OF THEM, NOW YOU ARE LUCKY TO SEE ONE IN A DAY OF FIELD ACTIVITIES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAS CAUSED THEIR DECLINE, COYOTES, INDISCRIMINATE SHOOTING OR WHAT. I DON'T THINK AGRICULURAL PRACTICES HAVE HAD MUCH TO DO WITH IT.

WELL, HAVE A GOOD ONE BUD. PRAY FOR RAIN!!!!!!!

[Nulle]

Rabbit populations run on a curve and you may be at the bottom of it.
Another aspect of this as in our area, we saw very few rabbits and then the fox got the mange and guess what we have a ton of rabbits now.

[justwannano]

Got more possums Than anyone could want here in SE Iowa. Get your order in early for the best selection.

They're slooowww moving critters so your jackrabbit population isn't going to be in danger

[gspsonny03]

Congrats on the award Nulle, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. We got almost 2" out of this last snow we got. It drizzled for one day and then we got between 18 to 20 inches of snow the next. Most of it melted the following day, so it really helped out. Now if we can get some more moisture for the rest of the spring maybe we can get the grass to green up. Again congrats bud.

[Nulle]

Thanks
The Wildland Fire folks are scared now that is was enough moisture to get the grass high and then if we don't get anymore it drys out and really goes up.
No pleasing anybody now days lol - I am just happy we got some now.

[Nulle]

I have been in Aberdeen two days and the reports I am getting is it is dry and rain has been missing them. Looks good compared to my Western area but spring moisture is very important to spring pheasant chicks so this is something to keep in mind for the Fall hunt in this area .

[Andy L]

Justwannano,
Where you at in SE Iowa?

Andy

[Nulle]

Iowaaaaaaaaaaaa ? lmao