Originally written by Chris Hitzeman. A reference guide for understanding how UGUIDE's season schedule is built, so hunters can plan their trip with confidence. The dates found on the UGUIDE Availability page have taken many years to develop. They are the most optimized dates per week, not only for hunters, but for the Owner Outfitters as well. Feedback received by UGUIDE over 10+ years has gone into the development of the Annual UGUIDE Pheasant Hunting Season Schedule. Below is a discussion of the dates of each week in the season schedule and their value and significance, to help you understand our system better.

Schedule Variables That Affect Every Week

A few things have come up over the years that can cause scheduling conflicts between Owner Outfitters, hunters and UGUIDE: Opener dates shift based on the 3rd Saturday start in October — one year the opener might land on the 15th, the next on the 21st. Just the shifting of these dates can affect everyone's calendar. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks sets these dates; UGUIDE does not. The Thanksgiving holiday switches between Week 6 and Week 7 every several years. Hunters who prefer the holiday week are usually able to switch with the group in the non-holiday week when that happens, and UGUIDE facilitates this. First right of refusal follows the week the holiday falls in: if the holiday is in Week 6 this year and moves to Week 7 next year, you'll have right of refusal on Week 7, and the reverse is also true. Days of rest between groups matter more than they might seem — what happens between Weeks 1 and 2 can affect the quality of every group's hunt for the rest of the season. Each week's dates are set to maximize rest between groups. Owner Outfitters need time between groups to clean the lodges — typically one day isn't enough, so two days are built in, both for cleaning and for resting the birds. Hunter schedules — families, other states' hunting seasons, and personal preferences — also factor into potential conflicts with the season schedule. Check-in and check-out times are always after 3:00pm the evening before your first hunting day, and before 10:00am the morning after your last hunting day. Hunting days each week: the date range shown for each week on the Availability page is the range of days you can select from, not your actual hunting days. Your hunting days default to the back half of each week's range, to give you the most rest ahead of your hunt. You can move your days earlier within that range if you'd like.

Week 1 — Season Opener

Shooting begins at 10:00am all season. Game, Fish & Parks sets the opener date, so check-in is after 3:00pm the Friday night before the Saturday morning opener — usually 10:00am the 3rd Saturday in October. On a 3-day hunt, checkout is before 10:00am Tuesday morning; on a 4-day hunt, checkout is Wednesday morning.

Week 2 — 1-3 Days of Rest

Thursday night check-in, hunt Friday through Sunday, checkout Monday morning. A 4-day hunt is a Wednesday check-in, starting to hunt Thursday. Days of rest are compressed but less of a factor this early in the season — each camp is assessed on habitat and bird numbers to determine if it can sustain 4-day hunts this week.

Week 3 — 2-3 Days of Rest

Your 3 or 4-day hunt can start as early as Wednesday, with your last hunting day as late as Saturday. Checkout is always Sunday morning.

Week 4 — First Full Week, 3-4 Days of Rest

Your 3 or 4-day hunt can start as early as Tuesday, with your last hunting day as late as Saturday. Checkout is always Sunday morning.

Week 5 — Full Week, 3-4 Days of Rest

Your 3 or 4-day hunt can start as early as Tuesday, with your last hunting day as late as Saturday. Checkout is always Sunday morning.

Week 6 / 7 — Thanksgiving Holiday Week

Thanksgiving falls in Week 7 more often than Week 6, and UGUIDE works to facilitate a switch between the two weeks when the holiday moves. In years when the holiday falls in Week 7, the Week 6 schedule runs like a normal week: a 3 or 4-day hunt starting as early as Tuesday, last day as late as Saturday, checkout Sunday morning. Whichever week holds the holiday, groups can check in as late as the Friday after Thanksgiving, start hunting Saturday, and check out as late as Tuesday — so families can spend the holiday together. 4-day hunts check in and start earlier in the week. The non-holiday week runs closer to a normal schedule.

Week 8 — Late Season Opener, 2-4 Days of Rest

Called the "late season opener" because by now the crops are typically out and the first skiff of snow has usually arrived, with temps below freezing. Birds bunch up and push into heavier cover. Your 3 or 4-day hunt can start as early as Wednesday, with your last hunting day as late as Sunday. Checkout is always Monday morning.

Week 9 — Season End, 3+ Days of Rest

This week offers some unique opportunities depending on where it falls on the calendar. There are usually no groups hunting after Week 9, so UGUIDE can often accommodate a later starting date for more rest days, and there's flexibility to adjust around major weather. South Dakota GF&P also offers a half-price hunting license if purchased on or after December 15th. The earliest hunting day start in this week is Wednesday.

Other Considerations

As you can see, scheduling UGUIDE hunts is complex. Because of that, we ask that all scheduling be facilitated through UGUIDE rather than directly through the Owner Outfitters. The same level of diligence goes into our pricing and discount system, our online quote and reservation process, and — most importantly — our habitat development work. We hope this helps you plan your trip with confidence, and we hope to see you in the fields of South Dakota.