Office of Tourism Partners with Minnesota Vikings to Promote Hunting
PIERRE, S.D. – The Office of Tourism has officially launched the Rooster Rush campaign in an effort to attract pheasant hunters from surrounding states.
In addition to promoting Rooster Rush through traditional media in targeted markets, the Office of Tourism has also partnered with Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings. Mr. Greenway, originally from Mount Vernon, S.D., is the campaign spokesman, and will be part of a pheasant hunt giveaway at the Grand Ciel Lodge near Plankinton in March, 2010.
“For generations hunters have flocked to South Dakota for the experience of the best pheasant hunting in the world, and it’s that experience that keeps them coming back every year,” said Richard Benda, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. “Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Grand Ciel Lodge gives us a tremendous opportunity to expand this tradition to hunters all over the region and invite them to be a part of this South Dakota tradition.”
On Oct. 18, the Minnesota Vikings host the Baltimore Ravens in a National Football League game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. Prior to the game, Office of Tourism staff will canvas the tailgating area to speak with people about Rooster Rush and pheasant hunting in South Dakota. During the game, Rooster Rush ads will be featured on video boards, two randomly-selected parent-child teams will participate in a half-time competition, and game attendees will have the opportunity to send a text message to register for the 2009 Rooster Rush Pheasant Hunt with Chad Greenway. In addition, the first 20,000 people in the door will get blaze orange caps.
The Office of Tourism plans to carry the Rooster Rush campaign beyond the 2009 hunting season.
“South Dakota is known for its world-class pheasant hunting, and Rooster Rush speaks to the avid pheasant hunter because it represents the excitement of opening weekend and the rush of the flush,” said Melissa Bump, director of the Office of Tourism. “Promoting the Rooster Rush each year will help us capitalize on our strength as a hunting destination and will allow us to build a consistent brand from year to year.”
Pheasant hunting by the numbers in 2008*:
- 176,180 – Number of resident and non-resident hunters
- 9,900,000 – Pre-season pheasant population
- 1,934,078 – Number of pheasants harvested
- $219.6 million – Dollars spent by resident and non-resident hunters
For more information and continual updates on Rooster Rush, visit www.HuntinSD.com.
Rooster Rush is one part of an overall shoulder season campaign to promote the fall season and outdoor activities in South Dakota. The shoulder season campaign is part of Goal 1 of Gov. Mike Rounds’ 2010 Initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota from 2003-2010.
