Turner County crow hunters continue 104-year tradition Wednesday

Bragging rights keep annual corvid hunt alive

PARKER — It’s the worst day of the year to be a South Dakota crow.

While more than a million of their fellow foul — of a more colorful variety — will meet their makers in the coming ringed-neck pheasant hunting season, crows are also on the bounty for a group of Turner County hunters this week.

And they have been every year since 1919 — sans a four-year stretch during World War II.

That’s because Wednesday marks the annual Turner County Crow Hunt, a tradition that sends out teams of hunters to see who can bag the most before nightfall.

In all, 26 pairs divided into two teams set out on the hunt at daybreak. They’ll return to the Parker Country Club for an official count about two hours after sundown.

And with no rules about where the birds can be taken, the teams are known to travel as far as Platte, Bonesteel and other spots along the Missouri River in hopes of earning the top shot trophy and the satisfaction of making the hunters who come up short eat a little — well — crow.