Rifle and optics
A .30/06-class rifle with a scope and sling covers everything here. Shoot it before you come and know your holds — shots in the breaks can be close or long.
What To Bring
Camp covers the beds, the meals and the trucks. This is the short list of what you bring for yourself.
Gear
Pack for November on the prairie
The list below has not changed much in sixty years, because it does not need to. A rifle you shoot well, boots you can walk in, and clothing for weather that can swing forty degrees in a day will get you through a hunt in the Cheyenne River breaks.
Familiarize yourself with the shooting of your rifle or bow before you come. In 4–5 days of hunting your guide will have shown you several trophy bucks, and a hunter cannot brag about the shot when he misses the big one — though hit or miss, the evening stories still get told.
Beds, linens, towels and all meals are provided at camp, and hunting transportation is in four-wheel-drive vehicles. If you are unsure about anything — optics, ammunition, taxidermy or getting meat home — call us before you pack.
The list
- Rifle in the .30/06 class with scope and sling
- Ammunition
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Hunting boots
- Clothing for variable weather
- Thermos
- Personal items
Bow hunters: bring your bow, arrows, release and a rangefinder in place of the rifle and ammunition. Bird hunters: shotgun, shells, blaze orange and a dog if you have one.
A few notes from camp
Boots and layers
November swings from shirtsleeves to snow. Broken-in boots, wind-proof outer layers, gloves and a warm hat matter more than anything else in the duffel.
Optics and a thermos
Binoculars are used constantly here — glassing is how these bucks get found. A thermos of coffee is standard equipment in a cold truck.
Getting the trophy home
Ask us about taxidermy and meat handling when you book so it is arranged before your buck is on the ground, not after.
Answers
Gear FAQ
What rifle should I bring?
A rifle in the .30/06 class with a scope and sling, plus ammunition. Familiarize yourself with the shooting of your rifle before you arrive.
What clothing do I need?
Clothing for variable weather, hunting boots, gloves and a warm hat. November in western South Dakota can be mild or hard, sometimes both in the same day.
Do I need to bring bedding or food?
No. Beds, linens and towels are provided at camp and all meals are included in the price of the hunt.
Can I bring a bow instead?
Yes — we run archery deer hunts for five days at $3,000 plus tax. Bring your bow, arrows, release and a rangefinder.
How do I get my deer home?
Ask us when you book. We will point you to local taxidermy and meat handling so it is arranged before you arrive.
How do I travel to camp?
Drive to Wall, 50 miles east of Rapid City, then 9 miles north on the Creighton Road. Rapid City has regular airline service and Wall has a lighted 3,500-foot asphalt runway.
Questions before you pack?
Call the camp. We would rather talk gear in September than sort it out in the dark on opening morning.