By Carly Davis

Earlier this year in June, I was invited to a Mark's Outdoors customer appreciation sporting clays shoot and lunch event at Limestone Springs. There were to be five on my team, butttttt ............ Not one of my group showed.

After not shooting very well on the course, I did not think the day was going so well. Then we had lunch and then the door prize drawing. Now I normally win something but this time I was think it wasn't looking very good. Not even a hat! Then the last card for door prizes was drawn and South Dakota Pheasant Acres here we come.

That was the beginning of an interesting number of phone calls. Not to bore you with details but the airline that we had originally reserved to fly, canceled our return flight and did not decide to tell us. They canceled the reservation we had with our dogs without telling us. So we canceled them. I flew Northwest Airlines, and if you fly with an animal, I think they should be your airline.

Four of us arrived October 11. Reno Shaft the outfitter (and, yes, that is his real name) and his driver met us at the Sioux Falls airport and we proceeded to Pheasant Acres Lodge. What a great place!

The original group of nine had the opportunity to submit license applications for waterfowl. Only three were drawn and were provided with permits. On Wednesday, October 11, there was an afternoon pheasant hunt. It was a great afternoon with plenty of birds and good dog work. On Thursday, October 12, there were morning and afternoon pheasant hunts. Can you say BIRDS?

Thursday evening's after-dinner party in the lodge resulted in the four non-waterfowl hunters - Mike, Courtney, Shawn and Charlie, - consuming enough adult beverages to think up a high school prank to delay our leaving on time Friday morning for the duck hunt. They taped the doors of our rooms shut with about two miles of duct tape. It looking like an intoxicated spider's web with tape across the hall from doorknob to doorknob. They have it on video. It is hilarious!

Thanks to Mr. Bill Wyatt, his trusty pocketknife and his long arms, we left on time. The group of Bill, Duane, and myself, Garry, my Lab, Bailey and our guide, Dave, had a good morning hunt, harvesting a mixed bag of 11 birds. Returning, to the lodge with enough time to change from waders to brush pants we were off to the fields again. Another great day!

On Saturday morning, October 14, we were hunting with Jim Thompson, a South Dakota Duck and Goose calling champion. What a pleasure it was to listen to the sounds that we are supposed to be making. Charlie took his video camera and taped this hunt; what a memory. Again a mixed bag, but Bailey and I harvested a banded mallard hen, which was my first! Total harvest for the day was 15.

After the morning duck hunt, Bill, Duane, and I, had Jim take us on a trip to see the area. We had originally planned to return for the afternoon hunt but the Missouri River is such a beautiful and diverse area that it should be seen; we did not make it back in time! The historic value of this area, just going back to the Louis and Clark expedition, is really interesting. Upon our return the terrible trio struck again! Shawn says, "Garry, I think the clean up crew broke something in your room" I open the door to the room and there is a LIVE Pheasant Rooster running around on the floor! These guys aren't right! We put it in Duane's' room since he had not made it in yet. You had to be there.

On Sunday, October 15, we had one more hunt to go. Duane, Jim, Bailey and I (Bill had to go back Saturday night) duck hunted one last time. We harvested only five birds, but again Bailey and I, with the great calling of Jim and the support of Duane, harvested another banded mallard hen! What are the odds?

I would like to thank Mark Whitlock for the invitation to the event that led to the trip of a lifetime, and to Reno Shaft his entire staff - Patrick, Ray Ray, Dave, Tina, and Slim - for showing us all the hospitality that we will look forward to each year! They have it all, great food, very comfortable rooms and flexibility in setting up your kind of hunts.

We have already reserved our dates for the coming season. Book early; they will fill quickly when others find out how much value there is in Ultimate Outdoor Adventures Pheasant Acres Lodge.

Please call me, Carly Davis, if you would like information on our trip. Phone numner os (205) 621-9005 or email me at gdavis@actionairl.com. Reno can be reached at (605) 337-9799 or (888) 840-7929

Thanks again, Garry Davis, Duane Donner, Bill Wyatt, Courtney Smith, Mike Smith, Shawn McAlpin, Charlie Beck, Pat Cogburn, and Dr. Whitley.