Black hills South Dakota

[Tomfoolery]

Im heading up the last week of april. Were camping at sheridan lake campground. Its gonna be our first trip so any advice would be great. A couple ppl have steered ne in the right direction from this sight. Talked with a biologist and he was very helpful as well. Im really looking forward to it. Honna be a change from the swamp bottoms here in south LA lol.

Not positive where Sherdan lake is for sure but if it is getting up in elevation, even the last week in April you could get snow. I have always gone open week, but I pack snow boots and white camo alonf also. Most times no problem but one year it even pushed the birds back down to lower ground. But most time in a day or two and snow will all be gone. But then some of the main road get  slick, so plane ahead where you might drive into, so you can get back out incase snow or rain. Like I said before north of rapid City is where the snow problem can start. As the weather fronts come in from the south as they rise to go over the Hills they dump Rain or Snow the higher up you to the North. High Planes drifter, if you go mid May I think for the most part you will be fine most anywhere. I been going to same area 20-30 years and we are sw of Sturgues where it is rough steep and hilly. Thats why we picked it when we were younger. The thing why we keep going back is we know what ridges the turkeys like to roost on now. And if we bust them we know what direction they are going to go. If you bust them on one ridge they might not roost on that ridge that night, but will be back the next day or day after. One other big thing to consider when picking a location is if you are scared of Mountain Lions or not. When we first started to go out there we seen a few tracks in the mud or snow. But now it is a nightly thing to see there tracks in your tracks. It bugs me to walk past a big rock wall in the dark ( I dont use any light going out in morning) knowing one could be up there looking me over. The Cats are the main reasion my older brother won't go out there with me anymore. He says he can't take the steep hills and the snow thing, but he goes elk hunting in the mountains. He's just plan scared of the cats. So pick your location be fore you hunt, because if you get your birds there you will be back it is beautful country.
One more thing you asked if you could drive on the roads, the answer is yes and no, there are a lot of graver two lane roads that people just drive slow and do road hunt. But there are logging roads that you also might be able to drive I believe after May 15. Thats why we go so early to get behind some of the closed gated roads. But here is one more thing to be prepared of, depending where you hunt and that is for ATV's and motorcycles. A lot of the gates that are locked for truck traffic have ramps so ATV's can get past. Some say they can't be back there, some say they can, ether way they do goof up a lot of hunts some times. Because I have been hunting this location that long I have a lot of stories. One day I even had a motor cross bike come flying up the valley one afternoon could here him coming twenty min. He turn and came up the hill I was on, and started down the deer trail, I had decoys set up on. When he came to my decoys out in the middle of no where, he stopped his bike in the middle of them, and started to look up into the trees all around looking for me. I was under a evergreen tree twenty yards away, but when he bent over to pull out one of my decoys. I left him know he wasn't the only one out ther in the middle of the woods. I still laugh every time I think about that. So depending where you are, some people have no problem with bikers or ATV. The USFS doesn't have enough people to stop them, and SD is promotting ATV's use over turkey hunting in my view, so I have accepted it. All and All you guys are going to just LOVE it hunting in the HILLS. Good luck

Sheridan lake is near Hill City. I looked up the elevation and its less than 5000'  great advice about the lions. Being from Louisianai really didnt even think of that. Do yall find it better to hunt in pairs or to split up. It will just be 2 of us going. I was thinking maybe hunt together beings its such big country and our first time.

[High plains drifter]

I'll be heading up from Missouri the last few days of April and the first week of May.  Doing as much research as I can, but plan on just putting a ton of miles on the boots.  Hopefully we can find a few to play in 7 days and then head to Nebraska or Wyoming.

.    You know,if you just walk up in those hills at 4 AM, I'll bet you will hear some gobbling, it might be a long ways away so you may have to drive your rig up there on Waze but I think there's birds all over those hills, so have a great time.

lo

Im heading up the last week of april. Were camping at sheridan lake campground. Its gonna be our first trip so any advice would be great. A couple ppl have steered ne in the right direction from this sight. Talked with a biologist and he was very helpful as well. Im really looking forward to it. Honna be a change from the swamp bottoms here in south LA lol.

Not positive where Sherdan lake is for sure but if it is getting up in elevation, even the last week in April you could get snow. I have always gone open week, but I pack snow boots and white camo alonf also. Most times no problem but one year it even pushed the birds back down to lower ground. But most time in a day or two and snow will all be gone. But then some of the main road get  slick, so plane ahead where you might drive into, so you can get back out incase snow or rain. Like I said before north of rapid City is where the snow problem can start. As the weather fronts come in from the south as they rise to go over the Hills they dump Rain or Snow the higher up you to the North. High Planes drifter, if you go mid May I think for the most part you will be fine most anywhere. I been going to same area 20-30 years and we are sw of Sturgues where it is rough steep and hilly. Thats why we picked it when we were younger. The thing why we keep going back is we know what ridges the turkeys like to roost on now. And if we bust them we know what direction they are going to go. If you bust them on one ridge they might not roost on that ridge that night, but will be back the next day or day after. One other big thing to consider when picking a location is if you are scared of Mountain Lions or not. When we first started to go out there we seen a few tracks in the mud or snow. But now it is a nightly thing to see there tracks in your tracks. It bugs me to walk past a big rock wall in the dark ( I dont use any light going out in morning) knowing one could be up there looking me over. The Cats are the main reasion my older brother won't go out there with me anymore. He says he can't take the steep hills and the snow thing, but he goes elk hunting in the mountains. He's just plan scared of the cats. So pick your location be fore you hunt, because if you get your birds there you will be back it is beautful country.
One more thing you asked if you could drive on the roads, the answer is yes and no, there are a lot of graver two lane roads that people just drive slow and do road hunt. But there are logging roads that you also might be able to drive I believe after May 15. Thats why we go so early to get behind some of the closed gated roads. But here is one more thing to be prepared of, depending where you hunt and that is for ATV's and motorcycles. A lot of the gates that are locked for truck traffic have ramps so ATV's can get past. Some say they can't be back there, some say they can, ether way they do goof up a lot of hunts some times. Because I have been hunting this location that long I have a lot of stories. One day I even had a motor cross bike come flying up the valley one afternoon could here him coming twenty min. He turn and came up the hill I was on, and started down the deer trail, I had decoys set up on. When he came to my decoys out in the middle of no where, he stopped his bike in the middle of them, and started to look up into the trees all around looking for me. I was under a evergreen tree twenty yards away, but when he bent over to pull out one of my decoys. I left him know he wasn't the only one out ther in the middle of the woods. I still laugh every time I think about that. So depending where you are, some people have no problem with bikers or ATV. The USFS doesn't have enough people to stop them, and SD is promotting ATV's use over turkey hunting in my view, so I have accepted it. All and All you guys are going to just LOVE it hunting in the HILLS. Good luck

Sheridan lake is near Hill City. I looked up the elevation and its less than 5000'  great advice about the lions. Being from Louisianai really didnt even think of that. Do yall find it better to hunt in pairs or to split up. It will just be 2 of us going. I was thinking maybe hunt together beings its such big country and our first time.

Stay together,keep a phone with you.mountain lions are nocturnal,  so they just rest during the day.You won't see one,but they are out there.When it's dark,be alert in thick cover.In the unlikely event you come across one, don't run.Stand your ground, and yell.Have a great time , that country is beautiful. There are birds around mt.rushmore.

Im heading up the last week of april. Were camping at sheridan lake campground. Its gonna be our first trip so any advice would be great. A couple ppl have steered ne in the right direction from this sight. Talked with a biologist and he was very helpful as well. Im really looking forward to it. Honna be a change from the swamp bottoms here in south LA lol.

Not positive where Sherdan lake is for sure but if it is getting up in elevation, even the last week in April you could get snow. I have always gone open week, but I pack snow boots and white camo alonf also. Most times no problem but one year it even pushed the birds back down to lower ground. But most time in a day or two and snow will all be gone. But then some of the main road get  slick, so plane ahead where you might drive into, so you can get back out incase snow or rain. Like I said before north of rapid City is where the snow problem can start. As the weather fronts come in from the south as they rise to go over the Hills they dump Rain or Snow the higher up you to the North. High Planes drifter, if you go mid May I think for the most part you will be fine most anywhere. I been going to same area 20-30 years and we are sw of Sturgues where it is rough steep and hilly. Thats why we picked it when we were younger. The thing why we keep going back is we know what ridges the turkeys like to roost on now. And if we bust them we know what direction they are going to go. If you bust them on one ridge they might not roost on that ridge that night, but will be back the next day or day after. One other big thing to consider when picking a location is if you are scared of Mountain Lions or not. When we first started to go out there we seen a few tracks in the mud or snow. But now it is a nightly thing to see there tracks in your tracks. It bugs me to walk past a big rock wall in the dark ( I dont use any light going out in morning) knowing one could be up there looking me over. The Cats are the main reasion my older brother won't go out there with me anymore. He says he can't take the steep hills and the snow thing, but he goes elk hunting in the mountains. He's just plan scared of the cats. So pick your location be fore you hunt, because if you get your birds there you will be back it is beautful country.
One more thing you asked if you could drive on the roads, the answer is yes and no, there are a lot of graver two lane roads that people just drive slow and do road hunt. But there are logging roads that you also might be able to drive I believe after May 15. Thats why we go so early to get behind some of the closed gated roads. But here is one more thing to be prepared of, depending where you hunt and that is for ATV's and motorcycles. A lot of the gates that are locked for truck traffic have ramps so ATV's can get past. Some say they can't be back there, some say they can, ether way they do goof up a lot of hunts some times. Because I have been hunting this location that long I have a lot of stories. One day I even had a motor cross bike come flying up the valley one afternoon could here him coming twenty min. He turn and came up the hill I was on, and started down the deer trail, I had decoys set up on. When he came to my decoys out in the middle of no where, he stopped his bike in the middle of them, and started to look up into the trees all around looking for me. I was under a evergreen tree twenty yards away, but when he bent over to pull out one of my decoys. I left him know he wasn't the only one out ther in the middle of the woods. I still laugh every time I think about that. So depending where you are, some people have no problem with bikers or ATV. The USFS doesn't have enough people to stop them, and SD is promotting ATV's use over turkey hunting in my view, so I have accepted it. All and All you guys are going to just LOVE it hunting in the HILLS. Good luck

Sheridan lake is near Hill City. I looked up the elevation and its less than 5000'  great advice about the lions. Being from Louisianai really didnt even think of that. Do yall find it better to hunt in pairs or to split up. It will just be 2 of us going. I was thinking maybe hunt together beings its such big country and our first time.

[ddturkeyhunter]

 (quote) Sheridan lake is near Hill City. I looked up the elevation and its less than 5000'  great advice about the lions. Being from Louisianai really didnt even think of that. Do yall find it better to hunt in pairs or to split up. It will just be 2 of us going. I was thinking maybe hunt together beings its such big country and our first time.
[/quote]
I had mentioned it to you about the cats just so you were aware of them. In the 20 plus years I have hunted out there I was out there by my self only three times between 2013-2015 so have hunted by myself out there. But out of all the years hunting out there I have only seen one cat. And he was running full blast past me at 70 yards, got pushed off the ridge next to me because my older brother was over there. I look at it this way, I don't say this to my wife she wouldn't want me hunting anymore. But if a mountain lion thinks your a deer and something he can eat, you are going to be hurting or dead. If its going to happen it will happen, but I still do not use a light in the dark, when going down the trail IN the Morning. I hunt by my self, but someone else is within a few miles. Hot sure how your cell reception will be by Hill city but where I am, I have reception on top of some of the ridges, but not in any of the Valleys or gulches. Hunting with two people I am sure would help, but like I said if he thinks your food he might think I have double the chance with two.
Your just a little on edge because of the unknown, just like when this Yankie (them Florida boys called me) when I was asking questions about florida and Gaters and snakes. They all laughed at me and said just send them my liscense they would shoot a bird for me. Half the guys I hunt with down there dont even where snake boots. And have no problem walking across a ditch or creek waist deep in the dark, not knowing if a 10 foot gater came in that night before. Its what ever your use to. So if you hunt with your buddy make sure he is in back, cats attack from behind most times. HA, HA just go enjoy your self.

[Tomfoolery]

(quote) Sheridan lake is near Hill City. I looked up the elevation and its less than 5000'  great advice about the lions. Being from Louisianai really didnt even think of that. Do yall find it better to hunt in pairs or to split up. It will just be 2 of us going. I was thinking maybe hunt together beings its such big country and our first time.

I had mentioned it to you about the cats just so you were aware of them. In the 20 plus years I have hunted out there I was out there by my self only three times between 2013-2015 so have hunted by myself out there. But out of all the years hunting out there I have only seen one cat. And he was running full blast past me at 70 yards, got pushed off the ridge next to me because my older brother was over there. I look at it this way, I don't say this to my wife she wouldn't want me hunting anymore. But if a mountain lion thinks your a deer and something he can eat, you are going to be hurting or dead. If its going to happen it will happen, but I still do not use a light in the dark, when going down the trail IN the Morning. I hunt by my self, but someone else is within a few miles. Hot sure how your cell reception will be by Hill city but where I am, I have reception on top of some of the ridges, but not in any of the Valleys or gulches. Hunting with two people I am sure would help, but like I said if he thinks your food he might think I have double the chance with two.
Your just a little on edge because of the unknown, just like when this Yankie (them Florida boys called me) when I was asking questions about florida and Gaters and snakes. They all laughed at me and said just send them my liscense they would shoot a bird for me. Half the guys I hunt with down there dont even where snake boots. And have no problem walking across a ditch or creek waist deep in the dark, not knowing if a 10 foot gater came in that night before. Its what ever your use to. So if you hunt with your buddy make sure he is in back, cats attack from behind most times. HA, HA just go enjoy your self.
[/quote]

Haha thanks man. Yea i guess its whatever youre used to. I dont like snakes anywhere but gators dont bother me at all. Shoo them out the way sometimes in the marsh fishing and duck hunting. Were lookig forward to the trip. Hopefully we can find a few birds.

[High plains drifter]

No telephoto lens on this camera. He is at about 20 feet from me. Spooky huh?



There is a lot out there that can getchya. Mostly some dough head driving next to you texting or hyped up on some pill while you travel to your hunting area. Or some little bugger with 8 legs carrying a disease.

I have been hunting the Ponderosa Pine habitat for over 20 years. I go in by myself in the dark. Sometimes when I have to go in quite a ways I leave the tent at 3:00 am. Never been lucky enough to see a lion. The wolf was in N Wis and made my day seeing it.

I don't sweat the dangers. Respect them yes, worry no. Go have a good time.

Nice photo! I agree, lion danger is remote, I've only seen one, in 40 years of bird hunting. This cat was huge, and could have killed me easily.I have seen a few wolves, they are way cool, and huge, in Montana.