2010 - Gregory South Dakota - Ringneck Pheasant Hunt

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Hookup
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2010 - Gregory South Dakota - Ringneck Pheasant Hunt

Post by Hookup »

Well, every year, for the past 25 years members of the executive management team disappear to Gregory South Dakota to Stukels Lodge and have a "management retreat". For the past two years I have been invited along as part of the new executive. This year I took my camera and I wanted to share some photos.

First, the lodge is very nice. It's not all butlers and waitresses waiting ready to meet your every wish and desire... but it is close. There must be a few hundred mounts throughout the lodge including a full Kodiak Grizzly bear, an albino muledeer/white tail cross and a black ring-neck pheasant. These beauties adorn the walls throughout the lodge and here are a few shots of the main eating area.

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Each morning breakfast is served at 8:30 am, pheasants do not rise early, so neither do we. Treated to eggs, bacon, pancakes and a full menu of other tasty treats, we head down the road about a 1/4 mile to the barn where we have a short briefing and load up the buses to head out to the field.

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If you haven't hunted pheasants before with the Stukels, the game plan is simple. 10 or more line up at one end of the file and 4 or 5 more get driven to the other end (in the bus) to stand as blockers. You see, pheasants like to run, not fly... so has the "walkers" move down the field making noise, some pop-up as you walk along and get shot at... others try to run out the end of the field, where the blockers come in.

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The great thing about this lodge, is the food. They bring it out, piping hot to a spot in the woods and serve a great hot meal. It is a fantastic spot to take a small break between fields and refuel.

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After two days, and 20 shooters we took 131 birds. It was an impressive showing again from the great state of South Dakota. I can honestly say that only 1/2 of the birds that we saw came down, if that... and the guides say that easily that many more never jump up and out-run you on the floor. Here are some photos of the spoils.

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Thanks for reading... Here are a few final photos.

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$mitty
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Post by $mitty »

Amazing trip and great pictures! Which company do you work for and how do I apply???
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ASK
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Post by ASK »

Hookup,

Thanks for your great report and awesome picture.

I am exciting to go to pheasants hunting.

ASK
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Post by Hookup »

It sure was fun. I was very lucky and bagged a double... I had to put down he camera, puck up the gun and crack off three rounds, but two birds fell... I was very proud.
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Post by MLR »

Nice report, thanks for sharing. Hope my company will pay me to hunt someday.
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