PIERRE, S.D.—South Dakota’s first pheasant hunting season of the year will offer young hunters to five days to chase the state bird, Oct. 3 through Oct. 7. Heeding concerns from the public about the warm conditions that can be present in early October, the start of shooting hours for this season has been moved up to 10 a.m. CDT. Shooting must end at sunset. During the five-day hunt private and public land, including Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, will be open to young hunters. All public road rights-of-way are closed to hunting during the youth season except for the one half of road rights-of-way next to and part of public hunting lands. Young hunters may qualify to take part in the season in one of two ways. They can follow the regulations set for the youth pheasant season or they can take to the fields under the provision of the mentored hunting program. Regulations for the youth pheasant season say that resident and nonresident hunters must meet these eligibility requirements: Open Unit: Statewide, Both private and public land, including Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, will be open to the youth hunters. However, only public road rights-of-way adjacent to public hunting lands will be open for hunting. Shooting Hours: 10:00 a.m. to sunset daily (Central time) Eligibility: Resident and nonresident youths must be 12 (must turn 12 by December 31) through 17 years of age, possess a valid Hunter Safety Certificate and be properly licensed to hunt small game. All youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult who is not carrying a firearm. Resident youth ages 10-16 may participate in a mentored hunt A full explanation of mentored hunting rules is available at www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/MentoredHunt/index.htm. Although not required by law, young hunters and the adults who accompany them are advised to wear at least one exterior garment of fluorescent orange. The daily limit is three roosters with a possession limit of 15 taken according to the daily limit. Nontoxic shot is required on most public lands with the exception of GFP Walk-In Areas, U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands and state School and Public Lands. Permission is required to hunt on private land.

The statewide residents-only pheasant season will be held October 10-12, 2009. The season is valid on public hunting lands only. The limit is three rooster birds daily with a possession limit of nine, taken according to the daily limit.

2009 Statewide Pheasant Seasons  Regular season

Oct. 17, 2009 – Jan. 3, 2010

 DAILY LIMIT. 3 cock pheasants

POSSESSION LIMIT. 15 rooster pheasants, taken according to daily limit. The limit accrues at the rate of 3 birds a day, and 15 birds may not be possessed until after the 5th day of hunting.

SHOOTING HOURS. 12 noon, Central Time, to sunset October 17 through Oct. 23; 10 a.m., Central Time, to sunset the rest of the season.

Future Opening Dates: South Dakota’s pheasant season traditionally opens the third Saturday in October.