Rooster!

Article Body

Rooster!

By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
October 23, 2026

In 1919, the first South Dakota pheasant season began as a one-day hunt in Spink County! Since then, pheasant hunting has taken South Dakota by storm. Last year, we harvested around 1.35 million pheasants - the highest count in recent history. I don't think there are many other states who find joy in shooting their state bird. And, as we see visitors dressed in blaze orange filling our lodges and hotels across the state, we know it's not just South Dakotans who enjoy this century-old tradition.

My family has always had a very close tie to the outdoors. We've ranched my whole life, and we've hunted as far back as I remember. Having four sons and now ten grandchildren, I never tire of sharing South Dakota's hunting tradition. We are fortunate to have something so unique that also keeps us focused on conservation, drives our economy, and strengthens our communities.

Conservation. Pheasants depend on healthy, diverse ecosystems. For over a century, South Dakota has benefitted from the conservation efforts of sportsmen across the state. We've enrolled tremendous amounts of new acres in additional habitat programs. Under the Noem-Rhoden Administration, we launched the Second Century Initiative to make sure that South Dakota remains the best place in the world to hunt pheasants for the next 100 years. We've already invested nearly $5 million dollars in habitat conservation through the Second Century Habitat Fund and millions more through other programs under the Initiative.

Economy. Our hunting tradition is good for the outdoors, and it's good for our economy. When hunters travel here from across the country, they aren't just filling their game bags - they're supporting South Dakota communities. You can see new faces dressed in blaze orange staying at our hotels, eating at our restaurants, buying our guns, and shopping at our small businesses. In 2025, hunter spending generated $304.5 million in revenue for our state.

Community. I always love dropping a few roosters - but what I love even more about pheasant hunting is walking in the field with old friends and making new ones. I've already been out hunting a few times this year, and I look forward to many more weekends filled with good stories, great company, and plenty of reasons to be proud to call South Dakota home.

Pheasant hunting is important for the next generation, as well. Our Department of Game, Fish and Parks is constantly finding new ways to get kids involved in our natural beauty. Our Youth Trapping Recruitment Program is getting more and more youth involved in the great outdoors each and every year. In two weeks, we will cut the ribbon the Outdoor Campus Sioux Falls expansion that will help us recruit and retain even more hunters, anglers, trappers, campers, and more.

South Dakota is the most Second Amendment-friendly state in the nation, and our hunting tradition is one way generations of South Dakotans have exercised that freedom. We will keep working to protect those freedoms so that our kids and grandkids can continue to enjoy the great outdoors and yell "Rooster!" for generations to come.

###