First Time in the FieldGovernor Rhoden’s Pheasant Hunt

A quick heads-up before you scroll: if hunting images are difficult for you, this post may not be for you. I sometimes struggle with them myself. But if you love dogs, there’s something here for you, too.

Saturday started with Governor Larry Rhoden’s 2026 Governor’s Pheasant Hunt and ended with the Zac Brown Band concert at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. For the morning hunt, we traveled north of Sioux Falls to Patriots Bend, where Russ Olson and his wife were gracious hosts to our group.

In all honesty, despite living in South Dakota for over 35 years, this was my first hunting trip ever. Our team captain, Matt McCaulley, led the way with hunting instructions and even a few photography tips for me. I appreciated the guidance as I got familiar with what was happening in the field and how to capture it. After years of photographing so many different parts of life in South Dakota, it was interesting to experience something so closely associated with our state for the first time.

And yes, the dogs got some time in front of my camera. There’s a lot to appreciate about watching them work alongside their handlers, and I wanted to share that part of the morning, too.

The Governor’s Hunt traces its roots to Governor Joe Foss in the 1950s and was revived and expanded by Governor Bill Janklow in the 1980s. Over the years, it has also brought business leaders to South Dakota to experience the outdoors, get to know the people here, and explore opportunities to do business in our state.

Thank you to Governor Rhoden and his team for the invitation, to Russ and his wife for their hospitality, and to Matt for helping me through my first hunt. I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience it and share the morning through these photos.