South Dakota Black hills

[Hobbes]

I've been through multiple times but went there for the first time to hunt last year.  We stayed at a Super 8 in Hill City.  It was nothing special by any means but it was clean and we could walk from there to eat every evening.  My wife had seen the whole place after a day and a half. 

Luckily I killed a bird within a few days and spent the next couple days taking her to some other places.  We'll probably stay in Custer next time.  I think it has a little more for her to walk around and look at.  However, I didn't get a chance to hunt down that way, so not sure how it compares.

We don't care for Deadwood.  It's just a big casino.

[AndyH]

Been going the last few years. Stay in Custer and stay at the Rocket M. Guys name is Don. He's the freaking man. Nice, clean little rooms. Usually talks turkey with ya. Even willing to point you in the right direction. Acts like you know specific roads and what not even though he's aware you just drove in. So nod your head as he tries to describe places to you. He's a great guy and that's where I'd stay if I was hunting around Custer. However, I thought about maybe hunting up a little more north towards Sturgis this year

I Appreciate the info I will look into this place.


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[AndyH]

I've been through multiple times but went there for the first time to hunt last year.  We stayed at a Super 8 in Hill City.  It was nothing special by any means but it was clean and we could walk from there to eat every evening.  My wife had seen the whole place after a day and a half. 

Luckily I killed a bird within a few days and spent the next couple days taking her to some other places.  We'll probably stay in Custer next time.  I think it has a little more for her to walk around and look at.  However, I didn't get a chance to hunt down that way, so not sure how it compares.

We don't care for Deadwood.  It's just a big casino.

Thank you for the Info. If we make it to that area I will keep this In mind.


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[Bolandstrutters]

You'll find the highest concentration of birds closest to towns and private ranches, but those will also be the most pressured birds.  We stay in Hill City and venture out from there.  Weather can be wild.  It can be 65 and sunny one minute and the next its sleeting.  So bring layers that are easy to shed and carry with you.  Don't expect these merriams to be easy like some people claim.  They will gobble their heads off, but that doesn't mean much.  When they fly off the roost they have somewhere in mind they want to be and you'd better be in between them because you'll never catch up to them once they get going.  These mountain birds travel a long ways on a daily basis.  You almost have to pattern their travel route to be in the game.  That doesn't mean that you won't find an easy one that wants to die, but from my experience those are few and far between in those hills.  Good luck!

[Bolandstrutters]

Also, bring a coyote howler or if you can howl on a mouth yelper that'll work too.  They don't seem to gobble to owl hooters nearly as much.  They will gobble to a coyote howl very late and night and also early in the morning.  So they are somewhat easy to get one roosted.  There was a roost tree we would drive by every morning at about 3:30 and they'd already to gobbling their heads off.  Luckily for them birds they were on private property!

[Wvdanimal]

Dress like you're going to deer hunt. I delayed my trip one year untin mid May and it snowed 6" the first night i was there. It's a beautiful place and I'm seriously considering moving there when I retire.

[Bern_pine]

I'd also seriously consider looking into the AirBnB's available. We lucked out and got one stay backed up to public land and some great private. One of the guys in our group ended up sleeping in one morning and got on some right out the back door, it was pretty wild. Look into using the app TURO if you havent already, it's basically an airbnb for car rentals. Super easy and much much cheaper than the rental car companies.

[AndyH]

I'd also seriously consider looking into the AirBnB's available. We lucked out and got one stay backed up to public land and some great private. One of the guys in our group ended up sleeping in one morning and got on some right out the back door, it was pretty wild. Look into using the app TURO if you havent already, it's basically an airbnb for car rentals. Super easy and much much cheaper than the rental car companies.

I was considering an AirBnB, didn't know anything about TURO I'll check it out. Thank you for the information


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[Matt76cmich]

Happy I found this as I'm heading to the Black Hills for the first time myself. Good luck!

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