Orange vests, green gains: Out-of-state hunters fuel tourism spending in rural South Dakota
Hunters find more than birds in South Dakota’s pheasant fields
When orange vests and blaze caps reappear across local fields and prairie each October, it marks not just the start of pheasant season but the return of hunters from across the country. From Tennessee and Minnesota to Kentucky and Alabama, thousands of out-of-state visitors descend on small towns and lodges in South Dakota, drawn by its long-standing reputation as the pheasant capital of the world.
The traditional pheasant hunting season officially opened Oct. 18, kicking off a three-plus month stretch that fuels both the state’s economy and its tourism identity. According to the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, more than 80,000 nonresident hunters visit the state each year, outnumbering resident hunters and generating millions of dollars in local spending on lodging, meals, and gear.
But for most who make the trip, it’s not just about the birds.
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