BBB Lodge Guides

HAPPY NEW YEAR - As we look forward to the new year and all the promise the 2012 hunting season holds, it is fun to look back in our blog to review the past season.  We set a new record for the number of hunters, the number of birds taken, and the warmest fall ever (leading to the most days hunted)!  We would also mention our re-booking is a record!  The best news is; the mild weather and low snowfall should be good for birds going into the spring and...the hunters that have re-booked are assured of the best hunt in SD again!

Although it appears we are going to get through this winter with very few days of sub-zero weather, there are still a few days of winter left on the calendar.  We could still get a bunch of snow and maybe even some ice, which would be bad for the bird population, but time is starting to run out for sub-zero temperatures.  It appears bird survival will be very good.  It seems most of South Dakota will appreciate a good comeback from the lower than average bird numbers from this past year.  It will be good for eastern South Dakota, as well.  Recent counts on walks through the CRP have been outstanding.  It seems there are abundant hens and a few roosters left to complete the proposition this spring!

Also, there are a lot of deer showing up in the last couple of weeks.  We saw 12 deer together just last week.  There were some good sized animals in the group and all of them were in very good condition.  Another benefit of the low snowfall and warmer than average temperatures.  It appears all the wildlife is doing well, as there are also abundant coyote in the area, which is not good for the bird numbers.

Look forward to our updated rate schedule soon.  Preparations are being made to revamp the kitchen and change around a few rooms in the main lodge.  Also, expect to see a full kitchen in the cabin this coming year.  We have an entire spring and summer to prepare for the coming season and it will be here before you can say, "Rooster!"

Send us a note on what you are up to during the off-season and reaffirm your hunting dates for 2012, if you have not already.  Also, let us know if you are interested in the Spring Goose hunt.  We are situated just on the eastern edge of the Missouri Flyway and we can get outstanding bird numbers coming through in about a month!  Finally, thank you for your kind support this past year!  We have the best hunters in the World! 

Fall 2011- Gwen's trainer just left after a couple of great days hunting.  Good to see the boys from MN have not lost their touch!  We are still working on slowing them down from an all out sprint to a slow trot when seeing a bird.  What is this "Death March" thing anyway?  Have a great Holiday and take care of yourself.

Fall 2011-Blake and Bill were back for Blake's first hunt. This was the fifth year for the pair after stumbling across our website years ago.  We remember the young guy from California waking up to his first SD snowfall that first year and running through the light drifts in his short-sleeve shirt with LuLu and Maggie close behind him, enjoying the fresh, cool dusting in their eyes!  What is it about puppies chasing in the snow that makes you smile?  We had a great hunt this year as Blake knocked down his first pheasant with a truly beautiful over-under 20 gauge, a very appreciated gift from his Grandfather and one that will be cherished for a lifetime and beyond in the family!  That bird will hang on the wall and symbolize a father and son's friendship forever!  

Thanksgiving has come and gone and Christmas is just around the corner.  It has been an astounding fall here at the Lodge.  We will have several groups returning for their second and third appearance of the season in the next two weeks.  We are especially excited to note we have rebooked over 90% of our hunters for the 2012 season.  There is a reason our people come back.  We provide an outstanding hunting experience along with unmatched personalized service and our meals are so delicious.  Our facility is always super clean and your stay will always begin with a warm smile and hot cup of coffee.  We are always happy to see you!  There are few open days left this year and several weekends next year.  If you are looking for a better SD Pheasant Hunting Experience, you owe yourself the phone call or email to start your hunting tradition at BBB Lodge.

The weather continues to hold with temperatures above normal.  We have less than an inch of snow on the ground and the birds are bunching up, finally!  These last days of the season are special.  If you have not hunted late-season, you are missing a very unique experience as the last of the roosters bunch up.  It is not uncommon to have large flushes from some of the heavy cover areas in the sloughs.  We call it ambush hunting as the we surround these spots and let the dogs do their work.  Also, the light snow cover and frozen ground make some interesting noises as you work through the field.  Is is not likely you will surprise birds but they can hold very well in the heavy cover of the lowlands.  A great hunting experience. 

We have had several "drop-ins" stop by in the last couple of weeks.  Some have been traveling to Montana and Wyoming to hunt big game.  They break up their drive by stopping by to shoot some birds and catch a good meal before "roughing it" in the mountains to the west.  Others stop by with their sons or daughters during a visit to USD, USF, Augustana, or SDSU.  All these schools are an hour or less from here and we are very handy for these families to catch a quick hunt.  Speical thanks to the track family from Kansas!  What a great group and pretty darn good poker players, as well!  Thanks for stopping by, Bob and boys!

Our snowshoes arrived!  We are setup for deep snow hunting this year.  After our initial try with this sport last year, Tim and Matt proved to us it is not only doable but also a lot of fun and challenging.  With the new technologies in shoes, you can walk very easily and pivot well to shoot.  We can outfit everyone in your group with snowshoes that fit well and feel great in the field.  You need to give it a try.  You may just want to stop by for a rabbit hunt this winter or join the annual hunt in January.  Are we hoping for snow??

Mike and Mike were here!  Thanks so much for the visit and thanks for the information over the years on how to operate a successfull lodge!  Your place on Lake of the Woods is always great.  Let us know when the ice is on.

Thanks, Jimmy!  We appreciate your group of clients from the resaurant groups in the region.  We are always happy to see you and your clan of "pretty good shots"!  We have restocked the humidor for the next hunt.  Your loyalty has been outstanding and your creative work is impecible.  Come and see us again.

The Minnesota boys were here.  What a thrill to see old friends and enjoy a nice cigar after a long walk in the outdoors chasing the SD rooster!  They finished close to their limit after seeing a lot of hens and a few more roosters.   These sportsmen were just fine with less than a limit as it is not all about shooting birds here at BBB Lodge!  It's also a great compliment to know we can help people with their bucket list!  We are looking forward to your return next month with more clients!  Thank you!

We just said goodbye to some outstanding business groups made up of people from Sioux Falls, Atlanta, Dallas, Washington, Omaha, Illinois, South Carolina, and Missouri.  Has your business thought about bringing in clients to enjoy South Dakota's greatest recreational treasure?  Everyone had a great time enjoying the beautiful weather, the rolling native grasses and the heart-stopping thrill of the cackle of the wily ringnecked rooster taking off from under their feet!  Thank you for enjoying the moments with us!          

The Turner County Youth Hunt was a big success with seven youngsters joining Jett WIlliams and Jimmy Fortune of Nashville fame.  Although windy conditions persisted throughout the day, the youngsters were able to bag 5 roosters in less than two hours.  Big thanks to the great volunteers who give of their time and talent to help promote the sport of hunting.  What a great group of youngsters enjoying the outdoors and the friendship of the hunt.  Also, a very appreciative group.  We will catch up with you guys this winter at the Grand Old Opry!  Keep up the tradition.

It was a busy day as hunters from Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, and Minnesota joined together for a great hunt in the north CRP ground.  Three father-son pairs were part of the hunt as our tradition of "hunting with family and friends" continues!  Limits were taken in spite of the stiff breeze from the south and the youth of the group proved to be better shooters.  The cool temperatures of the morning are beginning to make this feel more like fall even though the forecast continues to promise above average temperatures.  What a great time to hunt as hunters and dogs appreciate the near perfect conditions.  There was a ZZ Top (look-a-like) sighting today!  LAGAVULIN Band-Aid!  Thanks again for all the laughs!

The migration of blackbirds is about to begin.  Thousand of them were seen yesterday forming mile-long strings floating just above the treeline as they begin to group for the trek.  As they looked for a perch, the masses of birds formed what looked like a tornado, reminding us of a snowgoose tornado seen in the spring.  We are on the western edge of the Missouri flyway and the movement of geese, ducks and Monarch butterflies has been noted before.       

The group from Boston, Atlanta, Kansas City and TX just left.  A great group of retired and soon-to-be retired gentlemen who have enjoyed a fall hunt together for the last 20 some years.  Brothers and uncle-nephew were part of the party and catching up on the family happenings, with the sharing of photos on their phones, was part of the relaxation time after the hunt.  The enjoyment of the hunt included friendly jeering as a couple of "real big SD roosters" were missed by the native son!  Could next year be more fun? We are looking forward to your return!

The guys from IL left us last week and as always gave us many laughs.  Dinner was interupted a few times with cheers for the Cardinals.  Perhaps not hunting fanatics but rather hunting fans, they were quick to send pictures of fruits of the day's hunt to colleagues not here this year.  Limits were taken, thanks to a couple of sharp-shooters and long-shooters!  Have you ever seen a cigar lit with a propane torch?  It happens at BBB Lodge!       

Last year, over 90% of our groups had at least one father-son in them.  Hunting remains one of the few sports that could be considered a lifesport, making it something a father-son, father-daugher, mother-son, or mother-daughter can do for a lifetime!  Have you been hunting with your family lately? 

We had a great day for the PVA Benefit Hunt this year!  12 hunters were our guests for the day and a great hunt was just a small part of the celebration.  A huge lunch and dinner served by Honey Baked Ham was enjoyed by the hunters, volunteers and Turner County first-responders, who were special guests for the evening.  The Chancellor American Legion Color Guard presented the flags while the National Anthem was sung by two local volunteers.  One of the participants did an outstanding job of emceeing the event and gave a warm tribute to the Veterans, firemen and law enforcement personal present.  The entire event was filmed by Wild Dakota and will be aired in the future.  Very special thanks go out the sponsors and volunteers whom make this day possible and so special.  Let us never forget those who gave so much for our freedom.  We are looking forward to next year!

The weather has been outstanding for hunting and the forecast is for more of the same! 

You will love our comfortable clean lodge and our great meals.  Breakfast is usually a quick continental break served with the best coffee you will ever have, in our famous 20 oz mug.  At noon, it is homemade soups and sandwiches served on great breads from our favorite bakery in Sioux Falls.  You will enjoy the meal on our georgeous patio with the waterfall in the background or, if the weather is right, we serve the lunch in the field, enjoying the great South Dakota sunshine.  Dinner is always memorable as it is usually preceded by a choice beverage next to the firepit on the patio as we share hunting stories and listen to our guides debrief the group on the appraised skill level of that day.  This tends to be a great roast of both guide and hunters and it will most likely spill into the dinner hour!  The dinner is a 16 oz. ribeye or Iowa chop, if you prefer the midwest favorites.  As requested, we also offer salmon, chicken, or some pasta favorites on the menu.  After the dinner there is plenty of time to enjoy the the large leather couch with a football game on the big screen or a friendly game of poker with your colleagues.  Our beds are very comfortable and you are likely to sleep longer than you do at home!   

Happy hunting!