Im from SD and went out west north of the Black Hills mule deer hunting this 2010 fall. North of the Black Hills in South Dakota all the way to the North Dakota border had a horrible antelope kill off this last winter. The deer population is also horribly down in my experience. For every 20 deer I saw last year I saw maybe 2 deer. I was blessed and got a nice heavy 5 by 5 chased by me with one hole already in it so I put another one in his chest. He didn't run anymore. Feel bad for first guy but Im sure I have blessed others this same way. While hunting one "pasture" I encountered multiple dead antelope and deer. More antelope than deer. The scouting before rifle season I usually had to worry about goats chasing off deer i was trying to arrow. Not this year - a ton of them are dead. We would usually get some doe goat tags to fill during deer rifle and the state didn't even offer them this year. If you have out of state preference for deer and or plan on a goat hunt for fall 2011 do some research before you go. Just look up a town in the area you want to go and call anyone. These rural towns everyone knows a rancher and get ahold of one before you go they will let you know how it is in those areas. Seen on TV Eastman's Hunting TV pushing SD as sleeper state for mulies. It probably still is but not in the areas im talking about. SD is an awesome place to hunt deer, low population of people and unlimited tags if time and money. What other state can you buy unlimited tags if left over? The deer I shot was a flesh wound and no hunters were after it , this deer had run a distance when I saw it and shot it so please don't think I jacked someones deer like the thread in deer hunting on a guys deer getting jacked. If you haven't read that post go read it - its entertaining!
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