Standing Rock Reservation Antelope

[mt525]

Hey guys! I saw an old thread on this same issue come up recently, but figured I would start a new one.

I drew a standing rock antelope tag. Can anyone give insight into this hunt? Is it as hard as everyone says?

 

[Sodak_Lewno]

I grew up in the middle part of Corson Co and only saw 3 antelope in my entire life. Granted you get more into the natural range as you move west, and I have harvested several in the Grand River grassland, probably your best chance.

 

[TshaxesA]

Any luck? I have been interested in hunting on Standing Rock or Cheyenne River reservations.

 

[mt525]

Absolutely no luck. I saw a few very small bucks on private land near the Indian lands. Saw a few does on Indian lands. And only saw a few hunters. I think they just give too many tags for the number of antelope in the area.

I would not apply again.

 

[TshaxesA]

Good to know! Did you have to use a guide?

I know a guy who used to do some deer hunts out there and shot some nice bucks over the years.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My experience with reservation lands is leave the hunting there to the reservation occupants. Either one of 2 things are on most of them. One...they are way overpriced for me and second the residents hunt them hard. Here in Colorado, the P&W Department has little say on seasons, bag limits and licenses. Actually by treaty, they can hunt their "traditionally lands" and the government has little or no say in what they do.

 

[TshaxesA]

I am not sure about other tags, but reservation deer tags are the same price as a non-resident deer tag in Montana.

 

[Sodak_Lewno]

I do not want to poo poo on any hunting opportunity or entity trying to offer that opportunity, but this hunt typically leaves hunters dissatisfied. I resident hunt this county (white land-owner) and consistently see/hear of the struggles of people paying for these tags. The reservation whether it is advertised as such is not open to all tribal hunting because a good majority of the land is owned by non-enrolled peoples. The tribe also over saturates tags which in my opinion leads to hunter dissatisfaction with deer quality. I mean 500 tribal tags plus 300-500 state tags plus the uncalculated archery hunting makes it the most densely hunted county in SD, maybe the midwest.

Overall Cons- misrepresented access, costly, highly chased animals, financial support of tribal organization (something I refuse to ever partake in)
Pros- earlier hunting access to county, Financial support of tribe (if you care about such a thing)

 

[wind gypsy]

I mean 500 tribal tags plus 300-500 state tags plus the uncalculated archery hunting makes it the most densely hunted county in SD, maybe the midwest.

Not discounting that the area may be over pressured for the existing habitat/wildlife population but I dont think there's cover/habitat out there that would allow it to come close to being highest in midwest. Heck, my home unit in MN had 13.7 rifle hunters per square mile last year. That'd be 34,000+ rifle tags in corson county.

 

[Sodak_Lewno]

Fair enough, not looking to argue hunting pressure and harvestable excess populations. Main point was that its prairie habitat managed by 2 agencies that have probably no common management goals. Great animals can be had, but contacting some locals would give you a much greater idea of facts on the ground.

 

[cfounta1]

Not discounting that the area may be over pressured for the existing habitat/wildlife population but I dont think there's cover/habitat out there that would allow it to come close to being highest in midwest. Heck, my home unit in MN had 13.7 rifle hunters per square mile last year. That'd be 34,000+ rifle tags in corson county.

Very different scale that isn't comparable when you have trees and cover vs wide open prairie