Hanson Hunting

Carl Hanson is the third-generation farmer on the family land near Bath, South Dakota—10 miles east of Aberdeen. In the early 2000s, he opened up his private hunting acreage to other hunters so they could experience the same hunts he's known his whole life. Now the operation runs on thousands of acres across varying terrain: CRP, shelterbelts, corn, native grassland, river bottoms, and sloughs.

• •High-fence trophy whitetail is their specialty—unique racks you won't find on typical hunts.

They call this the "Pheasant Capital of the World" for reason. Hanson Hunting has access to diverse private terrain that produces consistent flushes. Dogs, game cleaning, and transportation are included. Non-resident license is $121; resident is $27.

Choose between a comfortable custom deer stand (see below), exposed tree stands, or spot-and-stalk. Scouting, tracking, field dressing, and decoys are provided. They've invested decades in tree planting, land preservation, and food plots to maintain the whitetail population.

Duck and goose hunting uses decoys and blinds across hundreds of acres of private ponds, sloughs, and river bottoms. Hunts depend on weather and migration timing.

• •Starting at $8,000. Each stand features:
• •Solid steel frame with insulation
• •Sliding windows and locking door
• •Built on trailer (pulls easy with truck)
• •Can be customized with electric wiring, generator, shelving, furniture, carpet, or flooring

The idea is simple: pull it to your hunting spot, leave it there for the season, and hunt. No setup hassle. Less wildlife disturbance. Better hunting success.

If you have access to hunts Hanson doesn't offer (bear, moose, wolf, alligator)—they'll trade. They specialize in deer and pheasant exchanges but are open to any hunting experience. This is how Carl and his team find new adventures.

Aberdeen is 10 miles away and has comfortable lodging, restaurants, bars, and outdoor stores. The farm itself offers a unique experience—guests report fishing the pond, boating the river, and hand-feeding fawns between hunts.

"There's never a dull moment on the Hanson Farm. Whether it was an epic hunt, or something happening on the farm, you'll likely leave with a story."