What's being done to preserve South Dakota's turkey hunting culture? Improving habitat is a start As turkey hunters have been experiencing a steady decline in harvest success rates over the past decade, South Dakota wildlife organizations are doubling down on their efforts to preserve the state's turkey hunting culture Written By: Sam Fosness | × MITCHELL, S.D. -- Save the habitat. Save the hunt. For the past decade, that’s been the mission of the James River Gobblers, a Mitchell organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing South Dakota’s turkey hunting. While the state’s turkey hunting opportunities continue to draw outdoor enthusiasts from across the country, generating roughly $21 million in annual revenue for South Dakota, the declining and at times stagnant numbers of turkeys being harvested by hunters in recent years has prompted state and local wildlife organizations to take more aggressive action on growing the turkey population.