Think You Have the Longest Tail Feather?

Let’s See How You Measure Up!

South Dakota pheasant hunting is legendary—and every hunter has a story about the rooster they won’t forget. Now it’s time to put your tail feathers and stories to the test! It’s Rooster Rush Season, and we want to see those tail feathers!

Enter your longest pheasant tail feather and see how it stacks up season long against hunters from across the region.

How the Longest Tail Feather Contest Works

1. Harvest

Legally harvest a South Dakota ring-necked pheasant during the legal South Dakota hunting season.
(Contest runs October 17th thru January 31st.)

2. Measure

Carefully remove your pheasant’s longest tail feather and bring it to the Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau / HuntFishSD.com to be officially measured. A weekly winner will be selected each week throughout the pheasant hunting season!

Official Measurement Location:
Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau / HuntFishSD.com
506 S. Main Street, Suite 1
Aberdeen, SD 57401

Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Excluding Observed Holidays)

All tail feathers must be measured at the official measurement location, and the Aberdeen Area CVB / HuntFishSD.com will determine the official measurement.

3. Enter

Submit your pheasant tail feather to be measured and provide all required information to enter the contest at the Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau / HuntFishSD.com. Hunters may enter multiple times throughout the season, but only one entry per hunter per week is allowed. The winner of each week will receive some special swag from HuntFishSD.com.

The Longest Feather Wins!

Think you’ve got the tail feather that can take the top spot?
Enter today and compete for the title of Longest Tail Feather Champion!

Contest Rules

1. The contest is open to legally harvested South Dakota ring-necked pheasant tail feathers.
2. Hunter must show proof of valid South Dakota small game hunting license.
3. Only one feather may be submitted per hunter each week.
4. The feather must be from a legally harvested pheasant.
5. The feather must be measured from the base to the tip.
6. Measurements will be measured in inches.
7. Contest entries must be submitted during regular business hours.
8. Contest organizers will verify measurements and eligibility.
9. All applicable South Dakota hunting regulations must be followed.

🏆 The Longest Tail Feather Champion!

The Longest Tail Feather Champion will be selected at random from all Weekly Longest Tail Feather submissions received by the Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau / HuntFishSD.com.

The end of the season the Longest Tail Feather Champion selected wins the following items from the Aberdeen Area Convention & Visitors Bureau / HuntFishSD.com.

Champion Grand Prize

1. (1) HuntFishSD.com Flex Fit Hat
2. (1) Custom Embroidered Carhartt Montana Rugged Flex Duck / HuntFishSD.com Embroidered Jacket (Size TBD)
3. (1) Pair of Danner Vital 8 Waterproof Hunting Boots (Size TBD)
4. (1) Carhartt Firm Duck Sherpa Lined Blanket
5. (1) Carhartt Two Compartment Cooler Backpack
6. (Unlimited) Bragging rights as the Rooster Rush 2026 Longest Tail Feather Champion!

Current Leaderboard

Who has the longest tail feather? Check back throughout the hunting season as hunters compete for the weekly win and the end of the season Longest Tail Feather Champion! Weekly winners will be posted below and displayed on the HuntFishSD.com Facebook page.