South Dakota - Pheasant Hunt

You will be walking, even when it is cold, a couple of thin layers will keep you plenty warm. Expect lots of wind. You don’t need camo, you do need orange and you need uninsulated comfortable walking boots. Unless you are hunting cattails, it will be dry and no issues with water or mud

Go get some field pants that have the thick canvas around the thighs and lower legs for if you walk through thicket. You will have to have blaze orange on so I recommend a vest that holds shells etc. bring chapstick for the wind. Hand warmers. You don’t really need camo but neutral colors are best. Bring hiking boots too. Depending on the forecast get a good windbreaker jacket and long Johns. Glove wise I had mine on only in between food plots. I like having the dexterity of my fingers, could do gloves without the fingertips

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You will be walking,

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We covered (20) miles over three days during my hunt last week and that was with me limiting pretty quickly each day.

The miles sorta sneak up on you.

OP you need boots with good ankle support.

My ammo of choice:

Just got back from ND is cool in the morning for southern folk. I was duck hunting. Like stated brush pants and jacket , layer with wool due to all the walking Looking at long weather it’s about to get cold up there. Wind blows hard up there.

20 gauge is fine if you can shoot.

20ga is good just keep your shots to closer ranges for straight going away birds. I was shooting mod / improved mod chokes in my O/U with the Fiocchi ammo above with good results. I was also shooting early season birds, late season could be a different game with a 20.

We like to go in Dec. when there is some snow on the ground. We still have to be smart about layering properly. It doesn't take much to get me hot so I was always wearing fewer layers than anyone else in our group.

Most of the time I had on a long sleeve shirt, a windproof pullover, jeans and chaps. I wore a mesh hat to release heat and kept a Beanie and neck gater in my hunting vest in case I started getting cold.

Get some chaps. We wear Muck boots since we walk around ponds and some low water areas however, waterproof lace up boots that are broken in would be the most comfortable option.

We used chaps and they worked great. Can walk through brush, they help with cold and are water proof.

Just got back from Redfield, SD. Hunted Saturday and Sunday. Unreal hunting over there. So many roosters. We hunted with 12ga, 5 shot. If you don’t hit the bird in the head or wing’ em, the bird won’t go down with the first shot. Incredible time and we shot limits both days. Temps were in the 20s in the mornings and in the 40s in the afternoons. Though it will get much colder in the next few weeks. You walk so much… comfortable clothes are the most important. It is so dry there, hadn’t had an inch of rain since July (per the farmer we stayed with). I got away with wearing lacrosse duck boots, brush pants, flannel and waxed coat. In the mornings I had a thermal top/bottoms but I took them off before lunch.

Highly recommend this and you’ll enjoy it.