SD Trip

All I can say is ” that there sucks to be you”

WW, thanks for the report. You’re getting me pumped for my coming weekend.

Quick question..is there a need for an auger extension?

Sully

I was also up last weekend with 9 guys. We were lucky to be in permanent houses so we didn’t have to deal too much with the weather like WW said above. But just walking around a little….by far the worst conditions I have ever been out in.

Our group did well fishing. Right about 200 fish for 9 guys fishing 3 days. Lots of smaller fish, but we had plenty to eat! Nothing better than fresh walleye/sauger.
Here is a pic of the big fish of the weekend. I caught this early Sunday AM. It went 27 inches, my biggest ice eye to date!!! Thanks to Sliderfishn for use of the LX-5 I owe you some
Jigging was definitely the key to catching the fish this weekend! Also, one thing that worked for some of us was jigging up the deadstick once we marked a fish. A good share of the fish would go for that as opposed to hitting the jigging spoon.

Sully –
I never measured the ice thickness….and we didn’t have to drill any holes ourselves…
But I know it was darn thick. I would think an extension might be needed. Definitely doesn’t hurt to bring it with

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Thanks to Sliderfishn for use of the LX-5 I owe you some
Jigging was definitely the key to catching the fish this weekend! Also, one thing that worked for some of us was jigging up the deadstick once we marked a fish. A good share of the fish would go for that as opposed to hitting the jigging spoon.

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Thats the second time that LX-5 has been to LOTW and I don’t know if Slider has ever been there. Thanks for the report guys.

I’ve got a combo hunt planned in SD Nov 6th – 9th. Archery deer(double doe tags) and pheasants. Our primary focus is going to be on deer.

One place I’ll be hunting is near the Missouri river. Lots of mule deer and whitetail in this area. I hope to shoot a big fat mule doe. They get really fat this time of year out there.

Anyway, I thought I’d attach a few pics from my cousin’s farm. Opening weekend of pheasant hunting went so well, they were done hunting early(60 + birds). So, being the rednecks they are, they decided to go rattler hunting given the warm sunny afternoon. They got 86. Yes, that is 86!!

I’m hoping the weather cools a bit before my hunt, not real fond of these critters. They have a couple very large prairie dog towns most of these were killed in.

Yes, my cousin has one around his neck.

I hate those things. They give me the heebie jeebies.

Out in Hot Springs, it is usually cold enough out, I don’t have to deal with them during the Rifle season. ICK .

Wow those are a lot of rattlers!

Wow , that looks like fun

I had no idea they had that many rattlers out there. WOW!

OK, next thread…..

Ummmm, seriously . I think that the only good snake is a dead one. What kind of an area did you hunt? Did this take place in like a 1 square mile area or what. Don’t have to worry about a trip swap with me Kooty.

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Don’t have to worry about a trip swap with me Kooty

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Me either!

My cousins have 4 different “farms” or places. Two of them have a bunch of old prairie dog towns and the rattlers really get thick there.

I’m with you guys. I grew up hunting the river breaks and I was always on the look out for snakes. YUCK!! It’s those early fall, cool nights, before hibernation when the sun warms the afternoons. I think they like to be out filling up for the winter after warming themselves. I don’t hunt this particular farm with my bow!!

All that said, the area I grew up in(20 miles north of here) has had a few run-ins with rattlers this summer. One lady lost her dog to a bite right on the edge of town. Another “neighbor” to my dad killed one in his yard north of town. For some odd reason they seem to really be expanding their range.

Again, I’m hoping for cold nights. That will slow them down enough I should be able scream like a 5 year old girl and get back in the truck.

That’s a lot of snakes

I hunt about 30 miles from the river, are there many snakes north of Mobridge? I’ve never seen one but I may not go back if I do run into any.

We ran into 3 rattlers in Fort Thompson while hunting chickens on labor day. All three where very near PD towns. That sound puts a shiver in my spine. The great news was that Bodi doesnt like the sound either, otherwise he would have been one hurtin pup.

Here my experience. If you have a prairie dog town, you got snakes. This area in particular is north of the river 10 miles or so. My home town of Highmore is just 20 more miles. I never once remember hearing about a rattler as a kid. So two in one year is a bit weird. My cousins have had snakes for as long as I can remember.

Yikes, do you guys were snake-proof boots? Never even knew they existed in SD.

No, I’ve never. Crawling around in the catus was more of a concern than snakes. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken off the boots to put a stock on in my socks then come back with a foot full of cacti. Always pack extra socks and bandages!!

The rattlers don’t want anything to do with you. It’s when you surprise them that it gets dangerous. Uncle was sneaking up an old washed out cattle trail one day on a mule buck. Come around the bend, here lies a giant rattler, just as unhappy to see him. He pooped his pants I’m sure. Same guy, we are putting on a stalk. I see something out of the corner of my eye strike at his leg. I didn’t stick around to find out more. I was a good 20 yard behind him before I turned to see if he was OK. Stupid garder snake he stepped on wasn’t happy.