The Zane & Joe Blog

Thoughts on Pheasant Hunting

From Pierre we headed to Watertown, SD. This journey was made exclusively on state highways. The trip got me thinking about hunting. So many of my students at UND proudly talk about waking up at 5am on cold fall days to go on epic hunts for pheasants. I accepted these stories. Until now. The state roads were LOUSY with pheasants. Seriously, every few yards there seemed to be another group of the birds. And they were VYING for the chance to self-immolate on the engine of my Pontiac. Eric was certain we were going to have another "bald eagle" situation like we did in Alaska. (I think I hit a ptmarigan, but Eric chose to play up the worst case scenario from the passenger seat). Somehow we made it to Watertown without contact, but it was close. And I have a new & total lack of appreciation for pheasant hunters.

Pierre

From the badlands we headed East and North to stop at the capitol of South Dakota - Pierre. We toured the capitol building itself, which was quite lovely.

Note Joe's sporting of TWO Junior Ranger badges. I also love this pic because I feel like this is such a common scene - Zane refusing to move and me grudgingly picking him up.

Soon enough he was willing to explore on his own.

Junior Ranger Joe, Badlands Edition

Joe was really excited to become a Junior Ranger at another national park. To be honest, this ranger was a bit less enthused about her swearing in duties than the gals up at Teddy Roosevelt National Park. Nonetheless, good job Joe.

Badlands National Park: Fossil Exhibit Trail

The Fossil Exhibit Trail was another great adventure for the boys. Dotted throughout the walk were enclosed cases of fossils with brief explanatory notes. 

Plus, of course, more climbing & running.

Badlands National Park: Panorama Point

Fun with Dad.

I get knocked down, and I get up again...

It wasn't just the prairie overlook walk that was turned into a racetrack. The boys took it to another level at this one - pretending to be race cars, enacting NASCAR/Cars-style crashes, and then getting back into the game.

Badlands National Park: Prairie Wind Overlook

It's hard to capture in a photograph the beauty of this prarie overlook. Ambling down the boardwalk, you hear the swooshing of wind and the rustling of prarie grass. Birds call out. Insects chirp. There is something very other-worldly about it. 

The boys weren't terribly interested in the sounds of the prarie. They just wanted to run laps up and down the boardwalk.

Ah, resting for just a moment on the bench at the end.

Badlands National Park: Pinnacles Overlook

Badlands National Park: Lay of the Land

After our refreshments at Wall Drug, we headed South to the Badlands National Park. We started at the Pinnacles Entrance and drove our way through the park & out the Northeast Entrance. For the most part, the left hand side of the road (the North edge of the park) consisted of prairie.

We didn't see a whole lot of wildlife in the badlands, in contrast to Teddy Roosevelt National Park, but we did stop for the wild turkeys above to pass.

To our right along the road (the South edge) were the badlands.

We could just imagine settlers in covered wagons chugging along the plains and then suddenly coming across this impassable space.

Wall Drug

According to wikipedia, Wall Drug spends $400,000 a year on billboards across South Dakota, the U.S., and beyond. It is the very definition of a tourist trap. So of course, we stopped to enjoy fresh-baked donuts and "free ice water."

The donuts were seriously tasty.