Drought likely to impact South Dakota pheasant hunting, but wildlife experts optimistic on season “We were set up to have a season for the record books. We came off a light winter with the hens in really good shape,” said Matt Morlock, South Dakota's Pheasants Forever coordinator. Written By: Sam Fosness | × Kade Haley walks a field with a group of pheasant hunters last year in Letcher during the season opener. (Sam Fosness / Republic) MITCHELL, S.D. -- Before the drought set in across South Dakota earlier this summer, the fall pheasant hunting season was shaping up to be “one for the record books.”