Rosebud, SD Reservation

[Rick in Ohio]

Well guys I like to ask if any of you have heard anything about all the poisoning that's been going on in SD ?

Why I am asking is I was told that a lot of the guide out there are giving money back to the guys that has book PD hunts for this year do to all the poisoning. They are telling people that there are just no where to shoot this year out there.
I don't want to make that trip out and find out there not place to hunt.

[Doug Roberts]

I heard the same thing and was finally told, third hand, the following: There are 2 kinds of land on the Rez. Tribal land and deeded land. The tribe has an obligation to keep tribal land p dog towns from expanding onto the deeded land. They poison to do it. The question has also been answered on the VHA forum. They said they were told there are plenty of dogs. Who ya' gonna' believe? I can't imagine a reputable guide would let you come out there knowing you weren't going to be able to shoot.

[Rick in Oregon]

Rick -
I believe it's all true. There was alot of discussion on this over on the 204 Ruger site, one of the moderators had booked a shoot with a guide, and had his money returned as you mentioned. He called the guide to clarify, and he was told exactly what you describe. The local guides are really hot about this blunder.

I have not shot there for a few years, so can't comment personally, but you could check it out by calling any of the guides that work that area, or go to the 204 Ruger forum and check it out with the guys who verified it there.

Bummer, as it seems the fools that run that place just slashed thier own wrists so to speak, as shooting PD's was a large part of their annual income.

[Rick in Ohio]

I have heard that a lot of that area has been hit really hard by 3 or 4 guys with poison and there not a dog to be found in there.
With the way gas prices now day I just don't want to drive 1500 miles and turn around and come back home. I think my buddy's feel this way to so this is why I starting to ask if any of you guys may no some thing that may live out that way.

I tried asking the VHA out there but they don't no any thing and you would think that they would be on top of this for us guys that have to do a lot of driving to get out there. I am just not sure about this VHA any more I am sorry to say.

[ranger]

I had a Fed biologist tell me that there were Indians in Wash DC looking for money to poison p'dogs while the p'dogs were being proposed for the endangered species list. They are as organized as chiago Democrats.!!! Ha, ha.

[MLM]

There are so many places out there to shoot PD's it is not funny, some private ranchers you do have to pay, but if you go just one more state over, they about kiss you for shooting them. Just be nice and close the gates and do as they ask. To tell the truth there are more dogs out in Montana to shoot anyway, it just adds one day more to the trip. So spend some time and be on your best day and ask around if you go to Montana. I have yet to be turned down out there. And there is little pressure. You can sit in one place and shoot all day. SO pack your lunch ,sunscreen and water. You are in for a day of shooting in PD heaven , well not for them that is.
MIke Murphy

[Oleman]

At the range today I ran into a fellow from the Pacific Northwest here that meets with his relatives from Wisconsin to hunt the PD's in SD.
He said the first year they went they didn't know where to hunt. They ran into a fellow in town and asked him. He told them he didn't have
any but his neighbors did. He took them out and introduced them and they've had great hunting every year since then. The gals all sit around
and have a conflab while they guys go out shooting.

Really don't think you'll have a problem if you just use some manners and smile. Been there and done that myself.

[Alpine Storm]

We just got back from SD yesterday. As we had never hunted on the Rosebud Reservation, we thought we would try. The price of the 3 day tag was $42 and we were told we needed to have a guide.

The officer at the Rosebud Fish & Game provided a list of the guides for the reservation. (apparently on the website) As far as I could tell, every male member on the Res is a guide. When we prodded the officer for a guide with a good or bad reputation, he tried to remain un-biased. His ridiculous comment that, "you will have to find out on your own as some are good and some are bad" didn't sit to well with me. But I also understand his position

Asking around, we eventually found one that had a solid reputation. However, he informed us that the Rosebud was "shot out" which according to the posts above has been "poisoned out". Nontheless, He has some deeded ground which his family owns, and was able to put us into a good sized town. His trespass fee was $35 per head, and we happily paid it. Best of all he didn't have to sit with us all day as is required on the Reservation.

This may sound derogatory, but IMHO Indians whether it's big game or in this case PD's, are typically poor conservationists. And their business practices are generally perplexing at best. (ie selling PD permits while simultaneously requesting funding to poison them) Our shoot was successful, but not smashing by any means. As with the other two areas we hunted, the dogs had been shot at pretty hard, and were educated.

Many of the landowners themselves or their kids also enjoy shooting, so by this time of year, even a big town can get a little thin. With that being said after three days of blazing away, I was done.

[AlteJaeger]

We just got back from SD yesterday. As we had never hunted on the Rosebud Reservation, we thought we would try. The price of the 3 day tag was $42 and we were told we needed to have a guide.

The officer at the Rosebud Fish & Game provided a list of the guides for the reservation. (apparently on the website) As far as I could tell, every male member on the Res is a guide. When we prodded the officer for a guide with a good or bad reputation, he tried to remain un-biased. His ridiculous comment that, "you will have to find out on your own as some are good and some are bad" didn't sit to well with me. But I also understand his position

Asking around, we eventually found one that had a solid reputation. However, he informed us that the Rosebud was "shot out" which according to the posts above has been "poisoned out". Nontheless, He has some deeded ground which his family owns, and was able to put us into a good sized town. His trespass fee was $35 per head, and we happily paid it. Best of all he didn't have to sit with us all day as is required on the Reservation.

This may sound derogatory, but IMHO Indians whether it's big game or in this case PD's, are typically poor conservationists. And their business practices are generally perplexing at best. (ie selling PD permits while simultaneously requesting funding to poison them) Our shoot was successful, but not smashing by any means. As with the other two areas we hunted, the dogs had been shot at pretty hard, and were educated.

Many of the landowners themselves or their kids also enjoy shooting, so by this time of year, even a big town can get a little thin. With that being said after three days of blazing away, I was done.

AS: Glad you had a great time PD hunting. Nothing that Indians do or get away with because "they are" surprises me. It has been going on for eons & will continue, more often than not with the blessing of the US Govt. If I never hunt PD's again it will be a cold day in hell when I hunt on an Indian Reservation for any type game.