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John & Barbara Hight
Carmen, Gracy & Matt Gilbert

South Dakota hunting - these hunts are as close to a sure thing as you can get!

South Dakota hunting with Crooked Creek Outfitters offers prime mule deer hunts, antelope hunts, and predator hunts in "almost" Montana. The hunting area covers over 32,000 acres, some of which borders Montana. The hunting area is located in Harding County, South Dakota.

The outstanding rugged terrain and range is loaded with mule deer and antelope and has some big animals. The outfitters are very experienced and know their South Dakota hunting land, and in some cases, you will fill early.

While hunting with us you will be housed in comfortable surroundings with all your meals provided.

We offer guided archery/firearm hunting for deer and antelope. Licenses are available over the counter upon request for archery. You may buy your license by applying directly to the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. Firearm tags on the other hand are a lottery draw. Based on that we offer only two (2) firearm hunts per year for deer and up to sixteen (16) firearm hunts for antelope.

Most hunts are spot and stalk done along pre-scouted trails, gullies, alfalfa fields, waterholes, fences, and water tanks. We use both man-made and "Ameristep" brand blinds due to the fact that we have prairie and "Badland Breaks" landscape with numerous dry creek bottoms, alfalfa fields, food plots, and hay corrals.

Crooked Creek Outfitters, LLC has the U.S. Forest Service Permit for all of Custer National Forest located in our area, and we are also an Outdoor Channel Recommended Outfitter. We utilize both tree stands and ground blinds for archery.

Owners John Hight, Matt Gilbert and Pine Gilbert are native to the area, having been born into ranching families in Harding County.

Over the years, John pursued a career in Law Enforcement and learned the outfitting business from the bottom up - by working for others. In 1983, John came back to Pierre, SD, and established "Cherokee Charters," which catered to fishermen and big game hunters. In late 2001, John sold that business and formed Crooked Creek Outfitters along with Matt Gilbert. Matt, in contrast, stayed in Harding County and is a partner in the family ranching operation there, along with his wife, Carmen, daughter Gracy, his dad, and his brother. Besides golfing and hunting, Matt has aspirations of one day operating as a Big Game Outfitter. In 2010 Matt's brother Pine was brought into the company as a partner. Pine takes care of the family ranch business while Matt and John are guiding hunters. In 2012 Matt and Pine have taken over operation and daily responsibilities of the company. John is staying on to do booking and assist where needed.

Crooked Creek Outfitters also offers guided South Dakota pheasant hunting. Based out of Pierre, South Dakota, the state's capital and geographically located in the center of the state, we are in prime pheasant hunting country!