South Dakota hunters had their first shot at the pheasant flock this weekend, during the residential pheasant opener. South Dakota Game Fish and Parks officials say this year's drought caused a slight decrease in the pheasant population. But officials say there are still plenty of birds for a successful hunting season. And hunters we spoke with are optimistic they'll still be able to bag their limit. 

The sounds of loading guns echoed in the fields today, as South Dakotans took advantage of the residential pheasant hunting weekend. But the sounds did not drown out the worries some have about the drought's impact on the pheasants flock. 

“The only bad thing is there will be a lot of cropland in so the birds will be in the croplands,” says Mike Smith, a hunter from around the area. 

Some farmers were forced to harvest their crops early because of the dry conditions. That prevented the thick brush pheasants prefer, but Smith says he's still optimistic, “Here in the eastern part we have been fortunate to have moisture in different parts of the year.” 

He says he's more worried for hunters in central and western South Dakota because that's where the drought was particularly brutal. 

“I am not sure how it affected the west because they did mow a lot of the CRP land,” says Smith. 

Smith and his son saw plenty of pheasant hens in the area today, but not a single rooster. He says neither today's bad luck nor the drought's impact on the pheasants will keep them from trying again next weekend. 

The pheasant season for state residents runs through Monday. Hunting is limited to public property only. The regular season opener is next Saturday.