South Dakota Pheasant | Cal in the Field

Ryan Callaghan visits Aberdeen, South Dakota for the state's festive pheasant season opener. Cal and Weatherby's Luke Thorkildsen join Pheasants Forever's habitat guru, Matt Morlock for some action packed opening weekend upland hunting. Cal talks with local ranchers and members of The Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition about the importance of wildlife habitat which ultimately drives in the bird hunters that supports their local economy. Presented by ‪@yeticoolers‬.
#fueledbynature #meateater
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[@jackiekinner3826]

We’re getting well and truly spoiled by the Meateater crew at the moment. They’re putting out lots of great content. Thanks from 🇬🇧👍

[@chrisberg3648]

As someone who lives in Aberdeen South Dakota I can tell you... pheasant season is a BIG DEAL. Since the season opened just over a week ago I've spoken to hunters who traveled from MN, IA, NE, LA, TN, NC, and FL. The best part is that they understand that even if you don't limit out, half of the fun is just being out in the field with your friends and dogs. As much as we love seeing out of state hunters who are passionate about pheasant hunting and conservation, we are just as passionate! There is nothing like going out with your dog that you trained and using that teamwork to shoot a limit or just enjoy a day out on the prairie! Come try it for yourself!

[@jakeplachko6575]

Heading to Aberdeen the end of this week you can add PA to your list now, how are conditions right now?

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

If all goes well add Switzerland to that list next season... It's been on my radar for some time and we don't have pheasants at all here. I'd loooove to visit.

[@mohunter68]

Absolutely. We as hunters and sportsmen/and women to do our part to protect this rich resourse. If WE don't protect and care for this species of game it will soon be lost. Our dollars can only do so much. We need legislation to protect this species or it will soon be lost.

[@pikeydag5474]

My parents are from SD and I have some cousins in Aberdeen. I loved seeing content from up there. I've always wanted to go pheasant hunting up there!!! Such a beautiful state in every way.

[@chrisberg3648]

@@jakeplachko6575 Weather might not be great this weekend but it won't be too cold. The real problem is that most of the corn has not been harvested so a lot of the pheasants are hanging out in the corn. You can still find them elsewhere but it will be a lot better once this corn gets harvested.

[@ryandanford5289]

It is truly awesome to see a whole community/town centered around a hunting season. Wish this was everywhere!

[@johnluniewski1791]

I love the drone footage and the doggy pro! Keep making videos guys!! Thank you 🙏

[@truss2005]

I love that aerial shot of snort running around through the tall grass tail going a million miles an hour

[@jayrobertson232]

OVERWINTERING habitat is especially critical to pheasant survival. I was very pleased to see cattail marshes on those farms. Good job!

[@michaels7312]

The drone footage is such a great addition to this episode!

[@matthewberg7395]

Very Cool of the City of Aberdeen, I'm super impressed. Really wished that more Small Town Cities could find there own Vibe to do this. It's very Impressive.! People are super awesome there, I could have died in Aberdeen 1 year on my Harley on my way to Sturgis....but a Resident picked up 4 of us and took us to his basement....a Monster tornado blew thru...saved our butts!

[@joshparker7125]

Lots of communities in my home state of Kansas need to see this video.

[@aussieredneck818]

What a great community, thinking outside the boxes. Who doesn’t win there.

[@jet305]

This recent flood of content has been you're best ever and consistently impress!!! Well done Meateater!

[@RenegadeBeef]

The aerial drone shots are an excellent addition , and really add to the texture of the hunt. Thanks.

[@Eric-dr5bj]

Not legal to do so in most places as it effects the animals being hunted

[@davida375AI]

Super great show! I love this one. And I love supporting towns and Pheasants Forever. My wife and I think this will become an annual tradition for us. Thanks Cal for a great show and insight to this community and its pheasant program.

[@michaelclay6074]

It's similar to the Taber Pheasant festival (what a great organized event) in Alberta Canada

[@user-ml7cv7mj1e]

I grew up in Nebraska, and pheasant hunting is as big of a hunt as deer. It's always a very fun hunt, and what is not to love about pheasant hunting . Beautiful& taste. If you want to bring people together, a bird hunt is the perfect thing. Great video and very glad to see people are still out there coming together for a good cause/reason. Love this show!

[@patrickburgess547]

I love the dogs eye view camera so much. Thanks Cal.

[@Wanklein325]

I love Ryan holding my son. The very last picture at the 2022 pheasant forever banquet here in Aberdeen. I’ve been waiting for this episode for a long year now. Nice work!!

[@macshatchetman13]

What an amazing episode, Cal and the gang. I'm going to include this episode in a proposal to my local city council. It's such a great idea. Additionally, SnortCam is so much fun - both ears still attached!

[@joshmcdonald6257]

Pheasant hunting is one of the few times a year my brother, dad and I can get together. SD holds a very special place in my heart not only for the hunting, but the people also. Much love from FL! Keep doing what your doing!

[@N5BLURadio]

This may be my favorite episode of Meateater ever. I love how Cal looked at the economy, the people, and the hunting. Look forward to more from Cal, Janis, and of course the other guy Steve. LOL. Thanks crew!

[@jasoncapecod]

I'm not a hunter , but this is fantastic!!! I mountain bike, and some towns have taken the same approach. By involving private land owners and having them provide access to trails on their land. The economy has boomed..ie: Kingdom trails in Northern Vermont..

[@neilrobinson1991]

Upland bird content is fantastic! Love the upland and waterfowl stuff. Really mixes in well with the standard content of bigger game.

[@randyadams7269]

Love to see the dogs work. Great training. Thanks

[@kyle-ri5mz]

I began upland hunting 3 years ago.. and i will continue until the day I die.

[@kirtthomason4620]

more Snort-Cam, please. Lots of uses [fly-tying comes to mind] for all those feathers - hope they find use for them vs. the trash can

[@cashotpb]

What an awesome story! Reminds me of Yuma for dove opener. Such a fun community and welcoming to out of state hunters.

[@somewhereinsd362]

Was great to see cal in aberdeen..... love the meateater team... thanks for visiting, hope u come back every year..

[@Randy_Savage_ohyeah]

Great work Aberdeen! Love seeing this community wide based effort. Go Pro on the dog was genius and a great view.

[@ksoutdoorsports]

Great video! I hope more small towns in the midwest see, and add up the dollars that efforts like this can bring to communities.

[@wyattkarhu5553]

I’d love to know how much that 16mil goes up over the next few years due to this show. Awesome town and awesome idea

[@adamnorthenscold7441]

Is anyone aware of a large, community based approach for big game anywhere? As a Minnesotan, I have to think there are some rural farming communities that could pull something like this off for whitetails- in a way that would benefit the community and hunters! Especially if they managed it in a way to encourage big bucks to grow.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

Not enough tags for that. Big game already gets auctioned off pretty much via outfitters (see CO elk, AK moose and so on). Pay to play.

[@scoobydoo3928]

You should see some of the huge whitetail that come out of the corn, when you're out hunting pheasant in South Dakota. I always see them, especially in the afternoon, or when they're harvesting. Good habitat mixed in with agriculture land. It's good for all the wildlife.

[@thornehauser9511]

Cal u r one of my heros. Keep up the good work

[@wetcoastadventures418]

That drone footage at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="798">13:18</a> is awesome, to see snort working and the rooster running ahead!! Great episode overall!!

[@manitoulinknifeworks]

Great to see that Snort is really finding her groove!

[@erintobler7254]

What great land and species management! Love this show so much!

[@joecallahan3379]

Good stuff, for the hunter and community.

[@danegild]

That little dog looks like she loves her work. Couldn’t get over the tail wagging when she was working.

[@D_Boone]

Tuesday Thursday release schedule is incredible

[@adammccollum8740]

This was a very cool show...the town and land owners offer this time is super cool...btw meateater cam crew the dog cam was really cool too. One of the best I've seen from meat eater. Eat you're heart out Steve lol love ya

[@thomasmiller2284]

Great episode, nice job Cal!

[@timwood3840]

Cal’s food blog maybe be short but you really get the essence of the food…. “Pheasant Sandwich, very tasty”

[@PSSKDerby]

Great video & story line. Simply incredible!

[@caddisfly9651]

Great episode about a great town doing what it takes. Also love the Snort cam. More of that please. Such a good dog.

[@lucasspillman7742]

Her little tail just made my day! Good doggo snort

[@Dagothurk]

Thank you for another small game video. Dont get me wrong, love all meateater content; but to me, big game gets old. Seeing small game get the spotlight by non other than Cal, makes my day. Hopefully we can see him and Kevin Murphy get out on a small game nation hunt!

[@andrewpansch7447]

There's truly alot of small communities throughout the dakotas and far western mn that have amazing pheasant hunting. If you're someone who hunts please visist the much smaller communities in your trips. They're well worth it.

[@OfficalWillbotMaster]

Gotta love this state. Awesome video!

[@williamharvey3658]

I’m gonna have to put this on my bucket list

[@rsa9082]

Great show Rayan Absolutely enjoyed ❤

[@blakepauli6965]

Being from Aberdeen, as someone who’s watched the videos for awhile, this is very cool !

[@clintonjgardiner]

I love this, my brother lives out in Java , can’t wait to come out and enjoy the season. 😃

[@ensporium8857]

Another great episode

[@Learning_2_shoot]

That Dog pro footage was a work of art. Camera crew bringing great value to the production.

[@genslug]

not a bird hunter, but I would totally do this. great vid

[@brianmoore4360]

Great episode cal

[@ah20176]

So excited to head to Mitchell SD for some pheasant in November

[@mscudde2]

Beautiful hunt!

[@h2oburke]

Finally some Upland stuff 😅

[@tylermackay7746]

i just love the fact that the entire time snort's tail is going a million miles an hour. you know snort love his job

[@apexkiller66-94]

Hope we get sharp tail, Greater prairie chicken episode In the Nebraska Sandhills.

[@cephalonaural6854]

Hoping to go visit next year and pheasant hunt from Alberta Canada!

[@commonsenseapproach101]

The key to getting our NON released(wild) birds back is rushy sloughs and weeds/grasses. But this year 90% of CRP was released by the governor of SD to be 100% hayed up and that included the rushy sloughs. I'm afraid if we get just a average winter we will see a HUGE drop in numbers again. I look at the actual numbers and i'm serious about habitat for the big picture. Not just the money part. We need to change the farm bill in encourage more habitat that is NOT hayed up all the time.

[@OfficalWillbotMaster]

Well said, the habit is key!

[@scoobydoo3928]

I usually drive all the way from California to South Dakota, for Pheasant hunting. It's that good. Every time, I see that the habitat efforts, along with the agriculture, helps more than pheasants. Lots of waterfowl, Prarie Chickens and Deer too. Next year, maybe I'll bring my fishing pole. A lot of the public walk-in areas have ponds or lakes.

[@commonsenseapproach101]

In SD the GFP and legislature have closed and are closing bodies of water and allowed them to be privatized. So be careful when fishing, you could get a fine and jail time. By the way our pheasant numbers are WAY down. @@scoobydoo3928

[@IttyBittyDeer]

Watching right as I fetched up pheasant soup... bit different here over the sea but tasty bird none the less!

[@Borderwalkers]

Growing up, me and my buddies would flush a rooster and call "Cock up!". And then we'd giggle.

[@LordViettner]

need more Snort Cam xD great episode, the community aspect is incredible

[@chadclayburg1410]

Got to go see this in person.

[@JamesWilliams-en3os]

I love the Doggie Cam!!

[@cva326]

Snort is the best name for a Lab that I've ever heard.

[@noahrachau]

I now live for the "Snort Cam"

[@bretthodge2832]

Love the new camera dog. Give Snort a raise.

[@bfischer611]

Love the Snort cam.

[@edromero9149]

Love it

[@anomaly.3860]

I finally see snort in action! 😄

[@hazentaylor9970]

Love the dog cam😂❤

[@AKFF320]

God Bless South Dakota!

[@thelandandi]

Awesome episode!! What is your O/U setup? Gauge? Chokes? Ammo? Thank you!

[@DanaN43]

Really liked the dog cam

[@Smfe614]

Love the dog cam.

[@elbimas2504]

awesome

[@natemiller448]

I DEMAND more Dog Cam! Make a companion episode with Dog Cam.

[@pseud0nymous]

Things to not say in an airport: "My program is to blow this thing up, probably gonna set off some alarms"

[@mtnman6942]

Awesome, I’d love to go, not sure how a Canadian would accomplish this, but I’m going to check it out 😎👍

[@chrisberg3648]

It's easier than you would expect! The US has very clear instructions on traveling with firearms (go figure) and you'll likely only need a passport and a non-resident license from the state you choose to hunt in (South Dakota is the best one though 😉 )

[@_rybarnes8102]

I wish Kansas would embrace pheasant hunting like South Dakota currently does. Opening weekend used to be a big deal in North central Kansas, now if you see hunters out you think they’re fools for even trying.

[@zowiefenderblast4602]

I live in south middle Mi. I remember seeing pheasant all the time back in the 90s. I have yet to see one in the past 15 years. The main thing I've noticed in that time is the coyote population exploding.

[@bobsilvan]

You need some good working cockers to get them birds up, great film.

[@mohunter68]

I've only seen one pheasant in my home state of Missouri and it was a hen. We are blessed to have some great habitat for quail, grouse, and deer. Please help Missouri bring back pheasant to our state. At this time it's illegal to kill a pheasant. Please contact MDC and encourage them to make restoration efforts to bring them back.God Bless!

[@tinglemccringleberry8899]

Love the dog cam

[@upland_outdoorsmn]

We went out during the week. Would have been sweet to see Cal

[@nicksilver_music]

In times like these, we can afford more handouts, communities have to come together, I can see programs like this working outside of hunting as well...

[@DavidMiller-dv1or]

Pheasant Capital of the World is a strong statement judging from the evidence that I've just watched

[@marktate4466]

Snort cam was pretty cool

[@earlshaner4441]

Outstanding video

[@joshkamp7499]

You couldn't have watched more than 3 minutes of it, you have no idea if it's a good video or not.

[@nickmendoza6773]

@@mzanziman9150 how was this spoiling it?

[@nickmendoza6773]

Negativity to what? You're the one telling earl to not comment on videos...@@mzanziman9150

[@madmod]

@@mzanziman9150 this guy made a good point tho. He comments right when the video is released, not 2 minutes after it's made public.

[@77justinwilliams]

16 million dollars coming into a smaller community from the outside, is a huge boost.

[@joanneganon7157]

Thanks Ryan , they are some tasty Birds🎉. JO JO IN VT 💞🎃👹👻

[@TheGermanDude1]

As a Hunter from Germany, the US Game food preparations are super interesting to watch. We mostly cook them in older very traditional ways.

[@jet305]

Please elaborate what cooking methods you use then. Very much interested. Im a South African hunter.

[@TheGermanDude1]

@@jet305For example Pheasant you would only get one way, and that’s roasted with mashed potatoes and Champagne Sauerkraut. Some people also bed the Pheasant on the kraut. deer you typically serve also roasted low temperature. with some heavy cream/fond sauce. Bread dumplings, Spätzle and Blaukraut which is red cabbage slowly cooked with some other stuff. We basically only roast it. But would never dare to deep fry it or do wild stuff like that. But there are some insanely good recipes. Wild Game is for most German non hunters more a special occasion food around Christmas. That’s why the heavy preparations.

[@Chameleox]

@@TheGermanDude1that sounds delicious!

[@jet305]

@TheGermanDude1 that sounds mouthwatering! 🔥 Thank you for the reply. I'll definitely try some German recipes. We're also not as fond of frying as Americans (Not that it's bad, just culturally different, I guess)

[@stevenhanson5782]

Camera on the dog looked great

[@dylancross233]

So underrated

[@aarontaylor6889]

More Cal content please!

[@kenwiltsie6920]

Reminds me of John Candy!!! 😂

[@recon3113]

I’m an upland bird hunter, loved the episode but nagging question “what happens if you do shoot a hen?” Big fan of Meateater. 😎🤘🇨🇦🤘

[@Master_Yoda1990]

By regulation you should immediately call the local GFP outpost to have a conservation officer check it out. If you don't inform the GFP about the hen and you're caught with it then it will result in a fine and possibly a revocation of your state hunting privileges for the year. That's in South Dakota anyways.