10/26 - South Dakota Pheasant Hunting Field Crops Conditions Report

October 26, 2009 by Chris Hitzeman

Limits coming from West River, Stoney Butte Creek and Aberdeen North locations. The corn harvest increased only 3% last week across the state from 6% to 9%. Soybeans went from 30% to 40% harvested and milo only went from 24% to 26%. Temps are cooler across the state and rains over the last 2 weeks have not helped harvest conditions improve much. Hunters are finding their best hunting during the last hour of daylight as birds move from corn to roosting cover.

FIELD CROPS REPORT Corn rated mature is at 96 percent, compared to 94 percent last year and 98 percent for the five-year average. Nine percent of corn has been harvested for grain, compared to 16 percent last year and 38 percent for the five-year average. Forty percent of the soybean crop has been harvested, compared to 82 percent last year and 88 percent for the five-year average. Ninety-three percent of the sunflowers are rated mature, compared to 85 percent last year and 92 percent for the five-year average. Ten percent of the sunflower crop has been harvested, compared to 15 percent in 2008 and 38 percent for the five-year average.