Rolling Plains Adventures News

Food Plots for Wildlife

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:17:00 PDT

It is food plot planting season again at Rolling Plains Adventures. Our goal is to provide added food and nutrition for pheasants, grouse, white tailed deer, ducks, geese, and more. We will explain a few points on how to plan and plant a food plot.

Site Preparation
Careful thought should be given to food plots prior to planting them. Things to consider before planting include potential weed problems, drainage, erosion potential and soil type/fertility. Before planting any food plot, it is recommended that you contact your local cooperative Extension agent for information on obtaining a soil test to determine the appropriate soil amendments* needed for the site.
Weeds are very beneficial as food and cover for wildlife. However, if weeds threaten production of the food plot some weed control may have to be dealt with before or after planting. This can be accomplished through herbicide treatments, prescribed burning* or plowing and disking.
Other factors also need to be considered. Avoid excessively wet or dry sites unless the selected planting is specifically adapted to those conditions. Consider the slope before doing any planting to eliminate erosion problems. If no-till seeding is not an option, you should not plant on areas with greater than a six-percent slope. Old fields or pastures may need to be mowed and sprayed with a herbicide prior to planting.

Planting
Planting can be accomplished through several methods depending on the type of vegetation and the site chosen. Seed can be drilled into the soil using no-till methods with a corn planter or grain drill. Alternatively, broadcast seeders that are attached to a tractor, pick-up truck bed, four-wheeler, or cranked by hand can be used to sow seed onto a prepared seedbed. If broadcast seeding is the planting method used, you will need to plow and disk (or till) the area to prepare a seedbed and use a disk or culti-packer to lightly cover the seed after planting.

Management
In general, food plots should be managed just like any other crop. Grain crops will need broadleaf weed control through application of a selective herbicide and/or cultivation. However, as previously mentioned, perfectly clean rows are not necessary because the "weeds" also have value for wildlife. Smartweed, ragweed, foxtail, partridge pea and other native broadleaf plants considered weeds by most landowners provide food for wildlife and add diversity to your food plot. As a general rule you can allow 10-30 percent of your food plot to be taken over by weeds without concern. Management of legume plantings, such as clover, may require clipping early in spring and/or late summer to promote lush new growth as well as periodic reseeding every 3-5 years. You can also manage food plots with practices such as strip disking*, strip mowing* or brush piles* within and/or adjacent to the plot to provide added benefits to wildlife.

The best management technique for annual grain food plots and one that should be considered as part of regular food plot management rather than an option, is plot rotation. This simply means not planting the same sites in successive years, but instead allowing sections to sit fallow for several years in between plantings. For example, take the area you have set aside as a food plot and divide it into thirds. Initially you may plant the entire area in the plant(s) of your choice. In successive years you would plant a different third of the area while allowing the rest to remain idle. The idle sections will quickly grow up in native vegetation that will provide abundant seed and attract numerous insects that supply valuable protein to young pheasants, songbirds, grouse and turkey. If desired, a legume such as clover can be over seeded onto the idle sections early the following spring. The idle fields also provide protective cover. By using this method, you have three different levels of succession in close proximity, which is very beneficial to wildlife. Food plots can also be used as a smother crop to eliminate fescue before planting to a more permanent wildlife planting. Plant a field or section of a field to a food plot for a year or two. The food plot will smother out fescue allowing native grasses or other more permanent cover to be established. The following year do another field or section of the same field. You eliminate competition, while providing food, cover, and different levels of growth in close proximity.
Remember, with careful planning, hard work and attention to detail food plots can be a helpful piece of the habitat puzzle. But they cannot be expected to provide everything wildlife need and are the last piece you should think of in the overall management of your property.

Logging at Rolling Plains Adventures!

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:06:00 PDT

Building log beds for the new private suites in the Grand Lodge. Shown in the photo above is the logs that have been cut into the right lengths and getting ready to shape them in place.

We have tennoned some of the logs in this photo using logging machines.

The logs are finally taking shape and starting to look like a bed. Shown here is the footboard for two queen beds. The pheasant, duck, deer, and coyote hunters are really going to love these new bed styles. I shouldn't forget about the ranch vacation guests and international travelers as well! Photos of the private suites will be coming soon!

Grand Lodge Update

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:57:00 PDT

Rolling Plains Adventures Grand Lodge construction progress is moving right along with this nice North Dakota weather we have been having recently. The landscaping is underway and all the top soil is hauled in to start the project. Only a matter of time now before it will look green and clean around the lodge once again. Stay tuned for new interior photos coming soon.

Database Recognizes Centennial Farms

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:47:00 PDT

Database Recognizes Centennial Farms | Video

Alexander Gorney | 4/26/2012

Some of North Dakota`s historic farms are getting some digital recognition. A new interactive tool is available to honor centennial farms.

It`s just another day on the ranch for Jeremy and Jay Doan.

"Me and my brother are fifth generation on the Black Leg Ranch. We run black cattle, thus Black Leg Ranch. We were one of the first to have black cattle in the area," Jeremy said.

The Black Leg Ranch was established in 1882. The Doan`s are working to keep its history alive.

"We`re trying to upkeep all the original buildings and preserve a lot of our fences are hundred years old as well. So our cows get out quite a bit," Jay said.

Black Leg Ranch is one of hundreds of century old family farms and ranches in the state that are still around today. These farms will be a part of a new interactive display at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

"The Doan family is just one more example of all these hundreds of family farms who came to Dakota territory before it was even a state. Here they are today in 2012, a very successful family farm operation," said Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation President David Borlaug.

Each farm will have its own page detailing its history attached with some photos.

"Folks can come search for a farm, county by county, name by name, and up will pop the great story, great tradition of agriculture in North Dakota," Borlaug said.

People can even find some of North Dakota`s more famously named farms.

"We have featured farms and we start out with the Dalrymple farms. One of the very oldest farms in the state and he happens to be our governor, we think that`s pretty cool," Borlaug said.

While they`re remembering their past, these farmers are also looking forward to the future.

"Being fifth generation out here. We`d love to keep it continuing for future generations, sixth, seventh, eighth and so on," Jeremy said.

This display is the first part of a project dedicated to agrarian heritage at the center.

Centennial Farms and ranches can apply to be a part of the interactive kiosk. Just visit the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation website for more information. Or Call 701-462-8535 or 877-462-8535 for more information

Grand Lodge Update

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:30:00 PDT

The Grand Lodge is scheduled to be finished in June of 2012. The private suites on the second level are almost complete right now, and the main level is getting closer everyday. We are in the plans of designing the bar, finishing all the interior wood, and building the log railing on the deck. Photos of the progress are coming soon.

Tourism leaders honored with Governor’s Travel and Tourism awards

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:34:00 PDT

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

April 25, 2012

For more information contact

Sara Otte Coleman, Director, Tourism Division

North Dakota Department of Commerce

701-328-2525

NDtourism.com

Tourism leaders honored with Governor’s Travel and Tourism awards

Outstanding leaders in North Dakota’s tourism industry were recognized today at the 2012 North Dakota Travel Conference in Bismarck. Gov. Jack Dalrymple and North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Al Anderson presented nine Governor’s Travel and Tourism awards.

“North Dakota’s tourism industry is an important contributor to our strong economy and a big reason why our state is the envy of the nation,” Gov. Dalrymple said. “Today’s award recipients represent the outstanding work that is occurring across the state to grow North Dakota’s tourism industry and provide visitors with a legendary experience.”

Awards were given to:

Fargo Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau (FM CVB), Tourism Organization of the Year. The Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau had a great year in 2011, achieving industry accreditation, hosting several major events and launching marketing initiatives to promote Fargo-Moorhead and North Dakota to the world. FM CVB’s completion of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) was the first for a destination marketing organization in the tri-state area of N.D., Minn., and S.D. Last year, the FM CVB played a vital role in bringing thousands of visitors to the area by attracting major events like the Pyrotechnics Guild International, USA Curling Nationals, The Fargo Airsho, Squirt International Hockey, Rumble on the Red, USA Wrestling, the American Legion World Series and the 20th Discrete Simulation of Fluid Dynamics Conference, which was last hosted in Rome. FM CVB’s innovative marketing efforts increased walk-in traffic to the visitor center by 30 percent in 2011. More than 30,000 travelers stopped by the visitor center last year, an increase of nearly 9,000 over 2010.

Kyle Blanchfield, Woodland Resort, Travel and Tourism Industry Leader. Blanchfield has been involved with the tourism industry as an advocate of and tourism operator in North Dakota’s outdoor recreation for more than 20 years. As the owner of Woodland Resort on the shores of the ever-expanding Devils Lake, Blanchfield has had to move his resort twice. But he hasn’t given up; he just keeps expanding his resort. Most recently, Blanchfield built an 80-slip marina to accommodate anglers and local boaters, and he continually maintains his beach shoreline, which is the only swimming beach on the lake. To give anglers and hunters a one-stop-shop for their vacation, Blanchfield accommodates two local guiding services and books their services with lodging accommodations. A constant advocate for North Dakota’s tourism industry and outdoor recreation, Blanchfield regularly contributes local fishing reports. In addition, he maintains a continuous marketing presence by supporting local and state efforts, and stays abreast of legislative issues that impact tourism.

Peggy Rixen-Kuntz, Dickinson Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Front-Line Employee. Since the opening of the Dickinson CVB Visitors Center in 2001, Rixen-Kuntz has been a summer front-line employee, offering top-notch customer service to travelers visiting the area. Due to her enthusiasm and knowledge of the area, travelers who encounter Rixen-Kuntz often send notes to the CVB office sharing their positive experiences. She goes to great lengths to assist travelers, whether to inform them of the area’s attractions or, in some cases, to escort visitors around Dickinson.

Jennifer Morlock, Dakota Cyclery, Medora, International Tourism Award. Morlock, a 30-year owner of Dakota Cyclerly, has an in-depth knowledge of the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the experience it offers adventure travelers, especially mountain bikers. Because of her familiarity with the trail, Morlock is often asked to host international journalists and media representatives on guided mountain biking tours, exposing them to the vast and rugged North Dakota Badlands. Morlock, who has a passion for mountain biking and the North Dakota Badlands, has a keen understanding of what international travelers expect from adventure travel and delivers on that expectation. Her involvement in hosting media has resulted in international media coverage of North Dakota, which positively impacts the number of international visitors to the Badlands and the western part of the state.

Bobbi Clarke, Williston Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), Behind the Scenes Tourism Employee. Clarke joined the Williston CVB in 2008. Due to the small staff size at the CVB, she has assumed many roles ranging from visitor services, administrative assistant and book keeper to event coordinator, store manager, and house and grounds keeper. No matter the role, Clarke has done every one with respect, pride and dignity. During a time of great change for Williston, Clarke has been flexible in her role at the office and how it pertains to the greater good of the community.

Medora Musical, Medora, Attraction of the Year. Performed outdoors in the North Dakota Badlands, the Medora Musical enters its 48th summer season in 2012. The professionally-produced Broadway-style show honors Theodore Roosevelt and his time spent in the North Dakota Badlands, and showcases American patriotism, cowboys and horses, and western and gospel music. More than three million people have enjoyed this North Dakota tradition; a little more than half of them North Dakotans. The rest come from all over the U.S. and world. About 100,000 people see the show annually. It has been recognized by the Library of Congress as an “American Legacy Event” and the American Bus Association has named it a “Top 100 Event in America” on a nearly-annual basis.

Norsk Høstfest, Minot, Event of the Year. Celebrating its 35^th anniversary this year, the Norsk Høstfest has become an internationally-known event drawing thousands of visitors annually to Minot and North Dakota. Each year, several thousand volunteers donate their time and talents to make the event happen. And last year, after the devastating Mouse River flood, was no different. In fact, the Norsk Høstfest was the first major event held after flood, thanks to the volunteers, many of whom were flood victims trying to rebuild their homes or helping friends rebuild their homes and lives. The outpouring of support to the Norsk Høstfest gave hope to the people of Minot by showing that recovery was under way and that tourism was still happening in the community. Norsk Høstfest features world-class entertainment, Scandinavian craftsmen and women, artists, dancers and delicious delicacies. More than 55,000 people from across the U.S., Canada and Scandinavia attend this five-day event.

Brian Mattson, Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau (FM CVB), Wade Westin Award for Marketing. As one of the first in the state’s tourism industry to pursue social media, Mattson is a real innovator in destination marketing. Leveraging the 10^th anniversary of the movie “Fargo,” he built a replica of the infamous woodchipper and later acquired the actual prop used in the movie to display in the Fargo-Moorhead Visitor Center. Coinciding with this effort, Mattson started a Facebook fan page for the “Woodchipper in Fargo,” which currently has more than 12,000 fans. Mattson shares his knowledge of social media by teaching classes and is active in the tourism industry statewide and nationally.

Rolling Plains Adventure on Black Leg Ranch Sterling, Best Package. Based on Black Leg Ranch near Sterling, one of North Dakota’s oldest operational ranches, Rolling Plains’ guides - and fifth-generation rancher/owners - help guests have a legendary North Dakota hunting experience. The hunting package includes a guided hunt, lodging in rustic pine cabins, target practice, home-cooked meals, airport pickup/drop-off and optional add-ons. In addition to hunting packages, Rolling Plains Adventures also offers ranch adventures like horseback riding, cattle drives, camping and branding.

“Every day our industry partners across the state share their passion for North Dakota with visitors from across the world,” said Anderson, commissioner of North Dakota Department of Commerce. “Their dedication and enthusiasm creates lasting memories for visitors and makes our tourism industry successful. Their hard work continues the legacy of legendary North Dakota.”

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 07:09:00 PDT

Every fall and spring, a massive migration occurs near Bismarck North Dakota on the Missouri River. This migration isn’t birds nor butterflies but walleye, a highly desirable game fish that are regarded by anglers far and wide. In fact, the fishing is so good for walleye on the Missouri River that many citizens call Bismarck home or move to this prospering community just for the fishing. This meandering river also beckons anglers from across the state and country.

While the Missouri River near Bismarck resembles the same river that Lewis and Clark saw, this large river now features several large hydroelectric dams that back up some of the largest reservoirs in the world. These huge reservoirs are home to some of the world’s best walleye fishing and each spring, nature calls. The natural instinct for this walleye population is to swim up the reservoir, up river in search of suitable spawning areas.

Rolling Plains Adventures guides will take you to some of the best Walleye fishing hot spots during your fishing adventures with us. You will experience some of this world class Walleye fishing first hand and have the privilege to feast on them as well.

Sandhill Cranes

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:14:00 PDT

It is that time of year again when the Sandhill Cranes have started moving in to the ranch. There are thousands of them feeding in our fields right now.

The Sandhill Crane is a tall gray bird of open grasslands, meadows, and wetlands. It congregates in huge numbers in migration.

Sandhill Crane

Adults

Sandhill Crane

Juvenile

Spring Snow goose hunting

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:27:00 PST

Frustration, long hours, lack of sleep, mountains of decoys, the whine of electronic callers, and ultimately success are all things that go along with hunting snow geese. All but the last one are things that happen day in and day out in the snow goose field and while success is something that you have to earn to achieve, it has to be one of the best feelings in the world when you finally get it all right and the birds decoy for in your face action. While the learning curve for hunting snow geese is just like that of hunting Canadas or Mallards, the journey along the way can make anyone want to give it up and sell off their gear, myself included. Ultimately though, the tried and true waterfowler will press on trying to obtain a small piece of the action for themselves. Sometimes the best way to shorten this curve is to do your homework in the field and during the off-season. Learning from some of the pros is one of the ways to quickly start changing things in the right direction, and after that it is up to you.

Some many things come to mind when we start thinking of snow goose hunting. Electronic callers and their placement along with the appropriate sounds, decoy spreads-layouts-numbers, scouting, and timing are all things that come into play. Even the best spread won’t do you much good if there are no geese in the area, and while e-callers are a definite bonus, blaring the wrongs sounds is one way to see more tails than heads. If you can follow in the footsteps, so to speak of guys that have already jumped over these hurdles, you can easily learn the fundamentals and eliminate as many possible snafu’s as possible before you start.

Pheasant Facts

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:03:00 PST

Pheasant Facts

Roosters will range in weight from 3.5 to 4 lbs (1.6 to 1.8 kg)
Hens will range in weight from 2 to 2.5 lbs (.9 to 1.1 kg)
The insulating effect of habitat moderates windchills, thus providing a warmer and less energy-demanding microclimate for pheasants (and other wildlife)
Birds, like dogs and cows, do not sweat to air-condition their body, they must pant (rapid inhaling and exhaling) to remove excess body heat
Through most of the growing season, pheasants can survive on the moisture they consume in insects and the morning dew on vegetation
Male pheasants are called 'Roosters' or 'Cocks' and females are called 'Hens'
A typical rooster accumulates a harem of three to seven hens
After hatching, pheasant chicks immediately begin growing flight feathers, and are capable of short flights at 2 weeks
Pheasants do not migrate, they stay relatively local all year long
On flat ground, a ringneck pheasant can run at speeds of 8-10mph
Pheasants can fly up to 48mph
During egg laying, the hen seeks out calcium and protein. Her diet will contain 10 times more calcium than the rooster's diet
The average length of a hen is about 20" (50.8 cm) where the average length of a rooster is approximately 36" (91.4 cm)
Pheasants main predators include: Fox, Raccoon and Skunk (as chicks) and Man, Fox, Hawks and Owls
Pheasants, a native to China, were brought across the Pacific in 1881 by Judge Owen Nickerson Denny in an inital batch of 30 (with 26 surviving the journey)
Pheasants eat berries, seeds, young shoots and insects and prefer open country with brushy cover
Through most of the growing season, pheasants can survive on the moisture they consume in insects and the morning dew on vegetation
During the summer, insects comprise considerably more of the chick's diet and weed seeds more of the adult's diet
Hens will make from one to four attempts at nesting during the spring nesting season
Pheasants are in the Phasianidae family and are cousins of Quail and Partridge
The spring ratio of hens to roosters is usually about 3:1
30% annual survival rate and only 2-3% of population lives to age 3, whether they're hunted or not
Pheasants, a native to China, were brought across the Pacific in 1881 by Judge Owen Nickerson Denny in an inital batch of 30 (with 26 surviving the journey)

Whitetail Deer Antler Growth And Shed Season

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:05:00 PST

White-tailed deer shed their antlers every year prior to the re-growth of new ones. It may surprise you to find out that the entire shedding process takes only two to three weeks to complete, and of course the re-growth phase takes place over the summer up into very early fall. Bucks have antlers throughout spring, summer, and most of the winter, but shed them sometime between January and April (depending upon the animal and latitude), after the rutting season comes to an end. A buck can carry-on without antlers at this time of year because they do not need to fight-off other bucks for territory and does.
Deer antlers differ from the hollow horns of cattle in that they comprise solid bone tissue with a honeycombed structure. Pedicles, the skin-covered nubs protruding from a buck’s skull, serve as a base for antler growth and support the deer’s antlers. However, keep in mind that the pedicles are permanent fixtures on the deer’s forehead, and are the point at which antlers separate from the deer each year.
During the first 8 to 9-months, the pedicles grow and begin to appear on a buck fawn‘s forehead (nubbin buck). Then, the buck actually begins antler growth as a yearling buck (first set of antlers). Each year the buck will go through the antler growing process and shed its antlers. As the deer matures, the antlers typically increase in mass, beam length, and point length. They also will add points in many cases, but not always.

During growth, antlers are covered with a sensitive skin commonly referred to as “velvet.” This velvet is filled with blood vessels that constantly feed the antlers the vitamins and the minerals necessary for bone building. Antler growth demands a lot of vitamins, minerals, protein, and energy, so adequate native forage or supplemental feed must be available to meet these requirements for maximum antler growth.
Antler growth can range from two to four months depending upon the individual buck. After this time, a hardened ring forms at the base of the antlers (burr) that shuts off blood flow to the velvet-covered antlers. As a result, the velvet deteriorates, dries up, and falls off, often assisted by the white-tailed buck, which rubs his antlers against tree bark.

At this point, the antler growing cycle is complete, the buck will prepare for the rut, and the shedding cycle will resume after the fall and winter breeding season. So now is the time to get out and look for those trophy sheds before the rodents eat them away!

NoDak: A First Trip to the Mecca of Hunting

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:26:00 PST

Blog post written by a Rolling Plains Adventures client this past fall

http://www.firstlite.com/campfire/2011/10/26/nodak-a-first-trip-to-the-mecca-of-hunting

NoDak!

I've never been to North Dakota before. All I knew about the state was that a) It is currently enjoying one of the only budget surplus positions in the Union, due to the booming oil industry, b) it is sandwiched somewhere between here and Michigan, and c) it supposedly offers some of the best all around hunting opportunities in the world. Being an avid bird hunter, it was definitely on my bucket list, so when a coworker and friend offered me up the chance to experience it first hand, I jumped at it. I didn't learn much about their fiscal situation and I saw a few oil refineries on the interstate but I definitely was able to confirm point C--the hunting is as good as advertised.

Ahhhh...there it is.
My friend pulled up to my house in South Central Idaho at 5am on Thursday morning. We had already packed up his Tundra the day before, so I warily loaded a few items into his truck, including my trusted and beat up 20 gauge over/under scatter gun, my boots and my dog, Steve, a wirehaired pointing griffon.
We drove the 13 hours to Bizmarck, ND in a blur, with the radar detector beeping now and then and the only stops at gas stations and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park where Steve and my buddy's dog, Magnum, eagerly relieved themselves and completely ignored the picturesque views of the Badlands offered up from the view point. In Bizmarck, we stocked up on lunch and breakfast foods, liquor, beer, and advil. Then we drove the remaining 25 minutes to McKenzie to Rolling Plains Adventures, our home and hunting grounds for the next four days and five nights.

The Scene

Rolling Plains Adventures is the ultimate hunting lodge for the true, working hunter. The birds are wild and not pin raised, the white tail deer are absolute specimens, the sharp tail grouse plentiful, and the waterfowling opportunities abundant. You won't find an executive chef there or any sort of a wine list. Instead, you find truly engaging hosts in Jeremy and Jay, two brothers who are converting their family ranch of several thousand acres into a hunter's paradise. I really can't say enough about Jeremy and Jay--they were the perfect hosts for our group. They didn't hold our hands nor instruct us on where we had to hunt on a given day. Instead, they offered helpful information on where they've planted what crops, where the birds have been recently, and then they'd simply let us loose for a day. Of course they offer the full guided experience with their own dogs, etc., if that's what you want, but our group consisted of experienced hunters who preferred to blaze our own trails. We opted to have the lodge prepare our dinners every night while we made our own breakfasts and lunches. The food was home cooked, hearty goodness. Nothing overly fancy but just what you craved after walking 15 miles in a given day. Both the brothers are extremely personable, funny and very knowledgeable sportsmen, but I really appreciated the fact that they respected our own experience and didn't force feed us with information.

The sunrises were just so-so at the ranch.
The accommodations consisted of a very nicely finished cabin for the six of us. The cabin had everything--washer/dryer, flat screen TV with digital cable, full kitchen, nice bedrooms and a very nice porch to drink cold beers on after your morning hunt.

Hunt 'em up!

The first morning, four of us headed out to a zone called Area 25, a beautiful plot of land a few miles down the road that had literally everything you could ask for as a pheasant hunter: Standing corn rows, a huge crop of sunflower rows, massive oak tree groves, a few different ditches complete with water and cat tails, brambles, fences, and every other form of cover you could imagine. Alas, it was time to shake off the rust. I took Steve off to skirt the corn, away from the other dogs where I could remind him of the rules and let him tear ass around since he'd been in a car for 13 hours the day before and had a surplus amount of energy. We were about 200 yards away from the truck when I looked up to flights of sharp tail grouse soaring out of the corn towards a neighboring field. They called as they glided overhead but I was slow and disoriented and hesitated, thinking at first that they were hen pheasant in the low, rising sun. Needless to say, I should have walied on them.

No shortage of cover on the ranch.
A few minutes later after rounding the corner of the corn rows, Steve suddenly disappeared into the corn field. I activated his beeper collar (a must-have for any pointer owner) so that I could tell where he was by the "beep...........beep.........beep" it gave off as he worked out of site. Sure enough, the slow pulse suddenly changed to a quick beeping--something I like to call the "bird bomb." I hustled into the corn towards the sound and found Steve on point.

Steve on his first point of the trip.
I calmly repeated "whoa" as Steve's tail twitched and walked around him, and then whooooosh....three pheasant hens erupted in front of me. Steve looked at me in his "WTF" expression after I let them fly away without a shot, and we continued on our way.

Over the next hour, we flushed two roosters but I didn't have a shooting lane. We flushed another hen. Then, while working a row of trees with nice cover, Steve began to act strangely, flash pointing but not in his normal manner. I kicked a bush and there was a skunk--tail up--who gave me a nice little musk to wear for the rest of the day. Steve ran away unscathed. Typical.
We returned to the cabin birdless and I have to admit, I was a little discouraged. This was NoDak--I was supposed to be day-drunk by now with a gaggle of birds in a pile on the porch, right? After a quick lunch, we went to a different zone that offered a wetlands landscape with tons of cat tails, water and Russian Olive stands. It neighbored a corn field and looked pretty good. An hour later, I had my limit of three roosters and my buddy had two. I was relieved and happy. After a quick beer break, we headed out to a plot right by the cabin to try and fill my buddy's bag for the day. Steve quickly located a rooster--no--a terradactyl that my buddy quickly shot out of the sky. It was a true NoDak ring neck.

Chris and a NoDak terradactyl.
The next couple days went by in a blur. The rest of the crew had shown up and we now had six hunters, seven dogs, and lot of energy. We pushed cover crop fields with blockers at the end. We would walk up to 15 miles a day, the dogs probably covering closer to 60 on a given day. We shot birds, passed on hens, and saw MONSTER white tail deer every day. The lodge offers white tail hunting, complete with tree stands, game cameras, etc. and this has been added to my bucket list based on the specimens I saw. There was a very nice gentleman from Wisconsin who was there chasing white tail. He reported being surrounded by deer every day, but it was "Mr. Basket" that he was after--an old, 10 or 11 point buck with a rack like a basket that skirted his zone repeatedly. I don't know if he harvested Mr. Basket or not as he was only on day three when we left but he was very excited about his prospects and said that it was the best deer hunting he'd ever encountered in his several years of bow hunting.

Passion Fodder

It was the final day of pheasant hunting when I had my "moment." On the long drive out to ND, Chris and I had agreed that every great hunting trip had a "moment"---that one memory created that you will always use to benchmark every trip thereafter. It's the defining kill or encounter or mishap of the trip, the split second that is permanently etched into your brain that keeps your chasing game for years to come.
For me, it was my young dog working in front of me on that final day, quartering back and forth, then obviously scenting birds. My thumb went to my safety as I shrugged my shoulders to fit my vest better, clearing the way for the butt of my shotgun. As we worked towards an old railroad berm, Steve suddenly froze in front of me. Now you must know that Steve is an odd dog, with odd mannerisms and often laughable puppy mishaps. So sometimes I think Steve has stopped on point, when he's actually squatting down to relieve himself, looking back at me like, "what's up?" When Steve froze, I glanced down at him and he was not peeing. He was literally shivering with excitement, his front leg up in that trademark pointer stance, his body all penciled out in a sideways, tweaked-but-frozen-solid position. He was pointing directly at the berm, a mere five yards in front of me. I excitedly walked around him, reminding him to "whoa." I kicked the brush on the berm but nothing happened. I then walked up the berm and looked down into the cat tails on the other side, but nothing doing. I quickly looked back at Steve who was still shaking and on point when WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH! About 9 pheasant exploded in front of me from the cat tails on the other side of the berm. I put a bead on a rooster and dropped him, swung, and shot another. The other seven roosters and hens flew to safety, but the damage was done. Steve hurriedly retrieved the two birds and carried on but I was frozen, grinning ear to ear, shaking my head. Just then my phone rang and it was one of my close hunting buddies calling from home to check in on my trip. "Dude," I said without a greeting. "Steve just had the nastiest, dirtiest point on a huge covey and I got the double. I could quit now and be happy as a clam."

The double. Note Steve's feet and toes--this place is brutal on dogs.
Steve had pointed several birds already that trip, including a few pairs and coveys, but for some reason that covey was just perfect. His excitement, the scenery, the confusion, the flush and the double. That memory alone will keep me hunting these damned birds for as long as I can walk. It was everything I wanted from North Dakota, unfolding in only a few seconds.
That night we stuffed our faces with delicious pasta and meat sauce, beers, cocktails and then wearily packed up. We left early the next morning and I don't think Chris nor I said a word for the first four hours of the drive back. We were content, tired and just happy.
And so I tip my hat to you, North Dakota, and I will be back---hopefully during Steve's lifetime and hopefully with a bow. It is truly a sportsman's paradise and it was everything I hoped it could be.

Footnotes

A few notes and some advice to the new-to-NoDak hunter:
1. If possible, be prepared to rotate dogs. We hunted our dogs nonstop for four days and it was simply too much, even for a young pup like Steve. He got home with shredded pads, a pretty decent cut on his chest from barbwire (despite his protective vest) and has slept for nearly 48 hours. Yes, they want to hunt ALL OF THE TIME but I would put myself in a position to rest him more next time, rotating dogs between myself and my buddies, even if it slows production down. Fortunately, I brought antibiotics and always carry a K9 first aid kit in my vest. The terrain, cover and land is very, very rugged there. Bring tons of dog food. My dog ate about 75% more than his normal intake. And always take the time to stop often to water your dog, as often as they'll drink. I probably stopped every five to ten minutes to give Steve a quick drink and definitely made a difference. Remember that your dog will keep hunting long after it's dangerously dehydrated and it's your responsibility to stop them and water them.
2. Bring everything you need. These lodges are often 30 minutes to the nearest stores, etc. That takes an hour out of your day if you need anything at all.
3. Research your outfit. Call them and make sure they run the sort of program you want. If you want fancy, check their menu. If you want freedom, make sure they're not overly strict as to your itinerary. Rolling Plains was excellent but I would have been bummed had they been too "hands-on."
4. Dress for wild weather swings. The mornings were low thirties and cold. By 10am, it was in the low 60's. Rain can periodically set in for short bursts. It snowed the final morning. Obviously, First Lite wool really shines here--I was the only one who wasn't constantly shedding and replacing layers in my Labrador top and base layer system.
5. Bring a cooler and a lot of beers. Nothing is as rewarding as a cold beverage after hiking your ass of all day.

New Rolling Plains Adventures Hunting Promo Video

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:35:00 PST

This video shows some pheasant, goose, duck, coyote, and deer hunting clips taken from Rolling Plains Adventures. North Dakota has some of the best hunting and this video proves it. Let us know what you think!

Coyote Hunting

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:48:00 PST

The winter months in North Dakota is an excellent time to get out and go coyote hunting. They roam the prairie in search of food and are easily seen in the snow. The best tactics for hunting during this time is using bait calls or hunting over bait. If you are looking for something to do during the winter months, don't miss out on the experience of a coyote hunt!

Winter has finally reached the Dakota's

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:27:00 PST

Old man winter has finally set in the past couple of days after above normal temps throughout the winter season. We still don't have any amounts of snowfall yet though. The pheasants, deer, and other wildlife are all looking as healthy as ever in these mild conditions. With it already being mid January, the antler growth on deer should be excellent this summer and the pheasant populations should be very strong going into nesting season.
This really has been en enjoyable winter season to live in North Dakota!

Happy New Year!

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:30:00 PST

2012 is now upon us and it is time to start gearing up for the new season coming our way. Hopefully, everyone has made their New Year resolutions and will try to achieve them. Rolling Plains Adventures goals for this year are completing the Grand Lodge project, landscape the ranch, build some permanent deer / hunting blinds, enhance the wetlands area for waterfowl, build a new dog kennel facility, and more! Hopefully we will have plenty of time to accomplish all of these projects.
From all of us at Rolling Plains Adventures, we wish you a Happy New Year!

Late Season Archery

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 13:29:00 PST

The Whitetail Deer have started to herd up and move into their winter groups. We have many of the large bucks patterned once again and they move like clock work to their feeding areas. One of the herds has increased to around 200 deer, many of which are bucks. Over half of those bucks will make Pope and Young, while a few will make Boone and Crocket score.
Only a couple weeks left in the season, so if you haven't filled your tag, let us put you on a buck of a lifetime!

Last Minute Gift Ideas!

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:18:00 PST

Only a few days remain until Christmas and you still haven't found all your gifts! Well how about a Rolling Plains Adventures gift certificate? Gift certificates work for a ranch vacation experience, or an outdoor hunting/fishing adventure. Let them create memories that will last a lifetime, and give them the gift that keeps on giving!

Late Season Pheasant Hunting

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:35:00 PST

It is mid December and the snowfall is minimal. Pheasants have started grouping up and moving into their winter hot spots. Now is the time to hit the fields and chase these wild animals. Plenty of roosters around and the weather forecast looks nice for the rest of the season.

Christmas is aproaching!

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:23:00 PST

Rolling Plains Adventures welcomes family groups, corporate groups, schools, couples getaways, small businesses, and more to the ranch. Let us host your Christmas party this season or any other event you would like us to host. Dates are filling fast so plan your next event today!

Another Successful Deer Season and BBD!

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:22:00 PST

Rifle season this year has recently closed this past Sunday and was a huge success. One of the guys hunting at Rolling Plains Adventures harvested a buck that is currently leading the BIG buck contest this year. This buck is a perfect ten pointer with heavy mass, a wide spread, and really tall.
The deer was first spotted about a mile away from where we were glassing, so a stalk was planned. After about two hours of crawling/walking, we were within 75 yards of the big guy. He was laying down with 2 other bucks and a doe. It was hard to get a perfect shot with him laying down in the heavy cover, so we waited until he stood up. This lasted about an hour until the doe stood up and minutes later the buck followed. The sound of the bullet hitting the target was a dead giveaway that we had a BIG BUCK DOWN! We slowly walked up to the deer, one step at a time waiting for what we would find. I could only smile with excitement as one of our clients started jumping up and down with joy after he had seen what he harvested.
This was yet another great hunt that made it into the memory books. Congrats Lee on the monster buck of 2011!

Migration is here!

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:53:00 PST

The migration has finally hit Rolling Plains Adventures. We have been harvesting pin tails, green wing teal, blue wing teal, canvasbacks, mallards, gad walls, wigeon, shoveler, red heads, and so much more. The fields are loaded with all these ducks, snow geese, Canada geese and more. If you are thinking about hunting waterfowl this season, this is the time. We still have a few openings to get in on all this action!

2011 Deer Bow Season right around the corner

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:16:00 PDT

The 2011 deer bow season is looking to be great. We have received so many excellent photos from our deer cams of nice mature bucks so far. Bow hunters will start to enter deer camp tomorrow with high hopes of bagging that buck of a lifetime. If anyone would like to be added to our deer cam mailing via e-mail, please send us your e-mail address to hunting@rollingplainsadventures.com and say "add to deercam."
From everyone at Rolling Plains Adventures, we would like to wish everyone luck on the kick off of bow season! Happy Hunting!

Rolling Plains Adventures summer update

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:28:00 PDT

Rolling Plains Adventures has been very busy these last few months. Some of the activities that have taken place have been cattle drives, horseback riding, ATV rides, lodging vacations, ranch rodeo's, cattle branding, and so much more.
The Grand Lodge has really been coming along as well. The windows are all in and most of the doors, all framing has been finished, tubs and showers installed, electrical started, roof is half on, and more!
Waterfowl season is looking like it will be one of the best ever! The number of ducks/geese in the area is extremely high with such a great hatch. Everyone that has their trip for this fall booked already is going to experience some excellent hunting!

Grand Lodge update

info@rollingplainsadventures.com — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:15:00 PDT

The Grand Lodge construction progress has been moving along. The pace has picked up this past month and the Lodge is starting to take shape. The goal is to be ready by September 1st, 2011.
In the past couple of weeks the basement level has been framed, new dormers put in, main entrance put up, new sewer system installed, old roof cleaned off from shingles and shakes, pillars poured, and so much more.
Everyone that has their hunting trips booked for this fall will be some of the first to enjoy the new Lodge.