Dave Spaid Guiding

South Dakota's Premier Fishing and Hunting Guide Service

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Hunting & Fishing Trips
Lake Oahe and the surrounding areas of the Missouri River
Pierre, South Dakota

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Hunt and Fish With the Pro's

About Your Guide:

I am currently 47 years old. I was born and raised on our family farm near Pierre, South Dakota. My great grandfather first homesteaded here in South Dakota in 1902. He was an immigrant of Scottish and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. After purchasing land, he broke ground west of Onida, South Dakota and built a house made of sod along with a root cellar, barn and corral for his two cows. It was located on a place where an old Indian tribe used to camp and worship. During his first years on the farm, it was said that some of the remaining Indians around the area would occasionally ride up from the Missouri River to visit the grounds. While there, they would attempt to trade items they made for butter, grain or cheese. After a few years, his wife died at an early age, leaving him with three children to raise by himself. Each of them eventually grew up and raised their own family and farms nearby. My father's generation farm came after that.

Now, as a member of our family's fourth generation, I presently own half of our original farm near Pierre, South Dakota. My career though, has been as full time hunting and fishing guide for the last 21 years. I also started fishing a few events on the pro walleye tours since 1993 and have enjoyed many top finishes. One of my greatest joys however, comes from helping others hunt and fish.

We are located on the largest section of water on the Missouri River and one of the most plentiful areas for fish and game in North America. Here you will see both upland game and waterfowl flying in the same horizon. I hope that you will give me the opportunity to show you some of the fantastic hunting and fishing our area has to offer.

21 Years of Friendly Service!

Fall Pheasant Hunts

We hunt wild birds... period. The daily limit is three roosters per day. You will be staying in Pierre, South Dakota. Our guides will pick up your group each morning and take you and your group out for a hunt. Shells are provided. We hunt the land owned by myself and many other local farmer and ranchers throughout the area. Each place has thousands of acres of natural protective cover set aside for year round nesting, feeding and wintering habitat needed to maintain a large population of birds. Our hunters are amazed at the numbers of birds they see each day. Virtually all of our clients bag their limit of pheasants each year.

Wild birds are much more of a challenge to hunt than the pen raised ones you may be hunting elsewhere. Did you know there are over 300 licensed preserves in South Dakota? Not here. These birds have the natural instinct to run and fly high from the sounds of danger. You will also see hen pheasants, jackrabbits, deer, coyotes, fox, an occational skunk or raccoon and other predators flying above in these areas.

Wild birds travel throughout the day in "clutches" and are moving around through large areas of thick cover throughout the day. Very rarely do you see them first before they see you. Some of these areas and the number of birds in them are quite large. To effectively hunt these birds, a fairly good sized group is needed. Although we can accommodate all size groups, an ideal sized group for this trip is 12.

Not everyone has to be in top physical shape to participate. For instance, the younger, stronger hunters can walk the fields for flushing birds while the older "seasoned" hunters can find plenty of challenging shots standing and blocking the ends. Also, witness some of the best veteran top-notch dogs at work flushing and retrieving every bird along the way. There are opportunities for other species during the hunt such as Sharptail Grouse, Prairie Chicken and Grey Partridge. Truly a hunters' paradise!

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Combination Hunts

Duck hunting, goose hunting, grouse hunting, walleye fishing, salmon fishing and prairie dog hunting are all possible options for the mornings prior to the afternoon pheasant hunt. Can you believe it?! All of these opportunities just minutes away! Your guide will pick you up early, take you out for the morning and bring you back around eleven or so for breakfast or lunch. You can change clothes, freshen up and get ready for the pheasant hunt.

We will do everything we can to find you some action on the species you wish to go for and it is our goal to privide you the best opportunities we can find in the shortest amount of time. Sometimes going with the guides's recommendations for that morning might be your best bet. In most cases, it's the guide's knowledge on "what's our best option for tomorrow morning" that really puts the fun and adventure into the trip.

Fall Waterfowl Hunts

The open water of the Missouri River is an important part of the "Central Flyway" for the waterfowl migrations. We have occasional opportunities for ducks, sandhill cranes and all species of geese throughout the fall. Around mid November, a certain number of larger Canada geese arrive here in town and winter here for the year. When the open waters of Canada and the Northern Plains freeze for the winter, sometimes not until mid-December or January, the remaining waterfowl North of us will funnel down thru our area. That is now the only open body of water from the Great Lakes to the West Coast. When this happens, the waterfowl season is at its best here. Our duck season closes the first week of January and the goose season extends into the first part of February. Non-resident licenses are available here over the counter. They allow you to hunt on private land only so you will definately need a guide. You will also need to purchase a federal waterfowl stamp or bring a license with one you previously purchased from another state.

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Private Groups Preferred

We specialize in private group hunts. Over 90% of our groups return here every year to hunt. They enjoy the area and what it has to offer. Most importantly, they have fun with us and we have fun with them.

Most of our groups range in size from 6 to 16 hunters. Although we can accommodate and transport up to 24 hunters to different locations each day, twenty hunters are the most allowed in one field under South Dakota Law. If your group is 5 or less, you may be subject to hunting with others during that time. A great way to meet new friends from other parts of the world.

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Dave Spaid Guiding

South Dakota's Premier
Fishing and Hunting Guide Service

215 Sunshine Loop
Pierre, SD 57501
PH: (605) 224-5009
FAX: (605) 945-0093
dave@davespaid.com