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• Ermer thought that hunters were averaging a bird a piece, but were seeing a good number of birds.
• "Hunters in Faulk McPhereson and Edmunds Counties were having a little more success, with about 2 birds each," she said.
• Early week rains were a blessing as they reduced fire dangers in the area and hunters were glad to see it, Ermer said.
• In southeastern SD, GFP Regional Game Manager Ron Schauer reported happy hunters.
• "All the groups I talked to were in good moods," Schauer said.
• He reported that most groups had between 1/2 a bird to 2 birds per hunter.  "Keep in mind most of our groups seem to shoot a lot of birds in the last hour of the day."
• Schauer reported that most of the groups that found unharvested or stripped corn fields were doing very well

and that hunters in Beadle, Jerauld, Sanborn and Davison Counties were finding more birds.
• "We also havent had any accidents today, which is excellent.  Opening weekend groups seem to really enjoy the tradition and camraderie that goes along with the day."
• "Our August roadside brood surveys indicated that bird numbers are up from last year in many parts of the state," said Tom Kirschenmann, terrestrial chief in the state Game, Fish and Parks Department. "The combination of higher pheasant numbers, good weather conditions, and a crop harvest nearing completion led to a great opening day."
• The lack of rain across much of South Dakota did come into play, said Kirschenmann. "This year's drought has reduced the amount of cover available for pheas

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