Out of State SD Antelope and Deer hunters BEWARE

[drbill]

Im from SD and went out west north of the Black Hills mule deer hunting this 2010 fall. North of the Black Hills in South Dakota all the way to the North Dakota border had a horrible antelope kill off this last winter. The deer population is also horribly down in my experience. For every 20 deer I saw last year I saw maybe 2 deer. I was blessed and got a nice heavy 5 by 5 chased by me with one hole already in it so I put another one in his chest. He didn't run anymore. Feel bad for first guy but Im sure I have blessed others this same way. While hunting one "pasture" I encountered multiple dead antelope and deer. More antelope than deer. The scouting before rifle season I usually had to worry about goats chasing off deer i was trying to arrow. Not this year - a ton of them are dead. We would usually get some doe goat tags to fill during deer rifle and the state didn't even offer them this year. If you have out of state preference for deer and or plan on a goat hunt for fall 2011 do some research before you go. Just look up a town in the area you want to go and call anyone. These rural towns everyone knows a rancher and get ahold of one before you go they will let you know how it is in those areas. Seen on TV Eastman's Hunting TV pushing SD as sleeper state for mulies. It probably still is but not in the areas im talking about. SD is an awesome place to hunt deer, low population of people and unlimited tags if time and money. What other state can you buy unlimited tags if left over? The deer I shot was a flesh wound and no hunters were after it , this deer had run a distance when I saw it and shot it so please don't think I jacked someones deer like the thread in deer hunting on a guys deer getting jacked. If you haven't read that post go read it - its entertaining!

 

[mikebob]

That was my deer that got jacked but I would say you did that guy a favor. I would say a deer that runs off that far with a bad shot fair game.

Why are the goats being killed off

 

[BillR]

We had a bad winter up there last year and it really took its toll on the Antelope and Deer populations in some of those areas. The area I hunt is further east and south and it was so bad I did not even put in for permits there. Last year was a huge year for the deer and antelope season and this year was a complete 180 although in some areas I did see good populations yet but that was not the norm. The area I hunted Antelope on last year had a population of about 300 animals but this year I counted about 20. Time to give them a rest. That same area we found a draw that the Mule deer had bunched up in during a storm and it had 14 dead in that area alone. That was only one draw in the area I hunt. It will come back but its going to take some time. I hated to do it but logic told me to lay off this year and see what next year brings. Didn't need the meat anyway. I did get some good time in looking around and seeing just how bad it was. So I just called that my hunt and had a good time outdoors and enjoying life.

 

[mikebob]

Here in OK where I live is usually pretty mild winters, around +30deg. This past couple of weeks I have been worried about my horses and hogs because it has been as low as -17 at night and +15 during the day. I know that doesn't sound all that cold from up there. But I learned from working in WY for awhile the cold there is dry and the cold here is wet so it feels colder here at the same temp.

 

[drbill]

As far as I understand the Antelope and Deer were killed off by our bad winter last year. The areas I hunt are northern Butte county and southern Harding counties. But I heard and now see from BillR's post this kill off may involve the whole NW region of SD.

 

[hifi]

I am in B.F. and hunt in butte county, last winter was tough on the critters for sure. seemed to be plenty of whitetails around the river though.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

The winter kill was very bad in the whole area you're talking about all the way up into North Dakota. That's why they closed their antelope season last year until further notice!!!

 

[webs]

Its been awful in Nodak also. Antelope dying everywhere.

 

[shorty]

Any word on the southern Black Hills, Hill City to Custer area? Thinking about trying there again.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I would think it is a lot better down that way because the further south you go toward Custer and beyond the easier winter they usually have from what people have told me. I just hope the pheasants do okay in ND as I go out there every year with my pointer north of Hettinger.

 

[eyeballjr]

Must have been bad all over, i haven't heard one good word about the deer population anywhere i have been.

 

[webs]

The pheasants may be dumb but there are always birds around. The one thing that would really hammer them is a late spring ice storm.

 

[VarmintGuy]

Must have been bad all over, i haven't heard one good word about the deer population anywhere i have been.

In east central Montana last fall (October 2,010) I was talking with a game warden about Antelope populations and he confirmed my observations - the Antelope population WENT DOWN by 50% in 1 1/2 years!
They had a killing spring storm which killed many Antelope mostly fawns and then they had a bad (crusted snow) winter and then the next year the season of 2,010 came along and VERY low/poor Antelope numbers.
I have Hunted the area for ever and I was amazed at how few Antelope there were in the fall of 2,010.
He further commented that the aerial census was so low that they flew several areas again to verify the poor numbers!
I would urge CAUTION for anyone contemplating an Antelope Hunt in east central Montana for 2,011!
This winter so far in SW Montana has been harsh so far but not killing - we have 117% of yearly average snowfall in our mountains already and its only January 18th.
Maybe this would be a good year to head north and Hunt Caribou?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

 

[Kurt]

perkins county sd has been hit real hard also did not even go this year as the year before there was not a deer over 2 years old i saw in 10 hard days of hunting the grass lands