FAN Outdoors · Billy Hildebrand (KFXN)

Fan Outdoors: Casey Weismantel, Andy Tri, Tackle Terry

·1 hr 35 min·5 clips

Casey reveals how Aberdeen's PATH program created 5,000 acres of public hunting land through private partnerships.

This episode of Fan Outdoors features hosts Captain Billy Hildebrand and Bob St. Pierre, who are joined by Casey Weismantel from the Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau in South Dakota. The conversation focuses on pheasant hunting conditions, public access programs, and travel tips for the upcoming season. Casey Weismantel details the successful PATH program, or Public Access to Habitat, which originated with the Aberdeen Pheasant Coalition. He explains the program partners with private landowners, offering monetary incentives to open their land for public hunting, now encompassing nearly 5,000 acres in Brown County alone. The hosts discuss the significant influx of hunters to South Dakota during the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to the state being "open for business" and offering outdoor social distancing. Casey reports current habitat conditions are excellent due to timely rains and a mild winter, with FedEx driver Jamie Palfrey noting high pheasant numbers along his rural route. A surprising insight is that local hunting lodges and outfitters have embraced the public access program, seeing it as a way to draw more visitors who might later seek guided experiences. Casey advises hunters to plan trips for mid-November or later for cheaper lodging, less pressure, and better hunting after crops are harvested. He shares a poignant story about serving traditional pheasant sandwiches at the airport to a World War II veteran, for whom the meal triggered powerful memories. The episode also includes a brief segment with DNR Bear Research Specialist Andy Tri, who discusses Minnesota's expanding black bear population and safety tips. The tone is conversational and informational, blending practical advice with personal anecdotes and lighthearted banter between the hosts. This episode is ideal for upland bird hunters planning a South Dakota trip or anyone interested in wildlife management and public land access. Listeners seeking a purely technical fishing discussion or narrative drama might find less relevance here.

As heard by us

Practical hunting talk with community habitat work and a useful lead-in to black bear questions.

Fan Outdoors keeps its feet on the ground with practical hunting and fishing talk, starting with a bit of on-air banter before shifting into pheasants, public access, and the community work tied to Aberdeen.

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Why you'd press play

A Thursday-night outdoor table that turns pheasant-banquet support and black-bear questions into practical conversation.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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