I live in central South Dakota, just to the west side of the Missouri river on bluffs above the river. 900 acres private ranch, surrounded by public hunting lands, around 10k acres in the immediate area. Past three years we have had feed plots for pheasants, way too dry this year to germinate the millet and sorghum cane we normally use. Whitetails and mulies are also down a bit in population due to various disease issues. Lots and lots of birds in the county, my cousin has 26,000 acres with around 4000 in crops and the rest ranch. I grew up in eastern South Dakota, my mom's family land is between Watertown and Brookings. I live on the Missouri, at the delta of the White River, people come from all over for walleye, catfish, northern, and pretty much any other fish you can think of (have to hit the ponds for bass fishing). Most summers we throw out setlines (trotlines) and pull in big poundage of catfish.
Lots of local pheasant guiding companies, some expensive, some very good and very cheap. Some people pay up to 5k for 4 day, other guys have sweet spots and will let you hunt for 3 days for $100. To the north of my own ranch is the largest public hunting area in the state. Doves, quail, pheasant and very large numbers of turkeys. 40 miles of public willow bottoms connected as well, bowhunting paradise if you don't jump into the quicksand.
My own efforts with pheasants on farm have been sort of random. 60 roosters flushed one day from the millet, they were cleaning up what the deer dropped. Near as many birds as I have seen at one time. In general, most of my ground is steep and hilly, hard to flush birds out. So not much consistency yet for bird hunting where I am at. My cousin claims to have pushed something like 600 plus out of a single field, pay hunters end up bummed out because they limit on the first push. If you have a good dog, you would pretty much be guaranteed a good hunt out on public ground. I think there is around 40000 acres in the five counties around me, with about half near my ranch.
In regards to deer hunting, we are pretty much prime. Guys drive really far just to hunt sheds in the spring (jacking my handle material.... grrrr). Just saw two 6x6 mulie monsters on the road to my house last week. Pretty much impossible to get tags for my county (Lyman) most of the time due to the large number of applicants for tags.
Have been trying to search out some other smiths, blade-makers, or tool fabricators in the state. Found one guy looking for blacksmith coal, nothing set up yet. Farriers are pretty much it, many do not even use forges anymore though, trim and shape, maybe bend a shoe a little.
Nothing gets the heart pumping like a Pheasant popping out of the tall grass right in front of your face. 
