2026 South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Forecast

South Dakota Reloads for Another Banner Pheasant Season

By Andrew Johnson – Pheasants Forever

According to harvest statistics recently released by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP), hunters bagged more than 1.35 million roosters in 2025 — a phenomenal year that reaffirmed the state’s status as the pheasant capital.

So what does 2026 have in store?

“As a whole, I would say I’m cautiously optimistic about this year’s pheasant season,” says Matt Gottlob, Pheasants Forever’s South Dakota state coordinator. “Just like in the grouse reports, there’s been some hot, dry weather in July and into August that could have had some potential impact on broods.”

At the same time, Gottlob says the state’s third consecutive mild winter, followed by a warm and dry spring, gave some pheasant broods an early start. More importantly, those chicks were further along when the hot and dry stretch arrived, improving their chances of survival.

Combined with a strong carryover of adult birds from last year, Gottlob believes the pieces are in place for another solid fall.

Habitat, as always, remains the backbone of that potential. But Gottlob reminds bird hunters that the other great thing about South Dakota is access. In fact, enrollment in SDGFP’s walk-in area program reached record levels and now offers hunters more than 1.6 million acres of public walk-in access. Part of that is thanks to Pheasants Forever’s PATH (Public Access to Habitat) program, which provides additional, one-time incentive payments of up to $25 an acre to landowners who enroll new, high-quality habitat into the state’s walk-in area program.

“In the last three years, our PATH initiative has opened access to more than 79,000 acres of private lands in South Dakota,” Gottlob says. “PATH is the cherry on top that has helped convert landowners and enroll quality acres for public enjoyment.”

Gottlob credits the state’s team of Pheasants Forever Farm Bill biologists for the program’s success, but he’s quick to mention their work doesn’t end there.

“In South Dakota alone, our Farm Bill biologists have impacted 431,000 acres in the state, so they’re making a huge impact as they work with farmers and ranchers,” Gottlob says. “That team lives and breathes this stuff, and they are the reason we are called The Habitat Organization.”

As you will read below, conditions vary by county and region as summer heat, localized drought and severe weather have taken a toll on habitat and bird populations in some pockets while sparing others.

But, as always, hunters willing to do their homework and cover ground should find birds.

Here’s how things look heading into this fall, region by region.

Northeast — Brown County 2026 South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Forecast

Casey Weismantel, executive director of the Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau and its outdoor arm, HuntFishSD.com, reports that last pheasant season was one of the strongest the region surrounding Aberdeen has seen in 15 years.

“We even heard hunters saying the bird numbers were getting back to the ‘Glory Days’ of pheasant hunting, and the numbers in the field certainly seemed to prove it,” Weismantel says.

Weismantel says another mild winter followed by a cool spring and timely rains set up a strong nesting and brood-rearing season.

Even better, Weismantel says the Aberdeen area has largely avoided the severe weather and hail that hit other parts of the state.

“Our spring nesting and brood-rearing conditions were about as good as we could have hoped for, and the number and size of broods we’re seeing on the ground are a true testament to the strength of our nesting habitat, winter cover and spring conditions,” he says. “Mother Nature has certainly been kind to us over the past three to four years, and the results are showing in the pheasant population.”

At present, corn is head-high and soybeans are fully canopied heading into fall, and Weismantel expects pheasant numbers to be even stronger than last year.

“Everything is lining up for another exceptional year, and the Aberdeen area is ready to deliver one of the best pheasant seasons we’ve seen in years,” he says.

His advice for traveling hunters: Do your homework. And don’t overlook the back half of the season.

“Take a day to identify the areas with the best combination of food and habitat, and then pick which ones best match your hunting style and expectations,” Weismantel says.

“Also, don’t forget about late season,” he adds, “because once you hunt the winter months, you may never want to hunt early season ever again. There’s less hunting pressure, less cover, and the cooler conditions are great for dogs.”