Making pancakes on the grill before the sun comes up at Gettysburg UMC.

Only a few states allow hunters the unusual privilege of bagging their state bird. South Dakota is one of them, and the iconic ring-necked pheasant. Pheasant hunters across South Dakota took to the fields early Saturday as the state's pheasant hunting season opener kicked off.

Gettysburg and Miller United Methodist congregations shared hospitality with some of the tens of thousands of hunters aiming to take part in traditional pheasant hunting season.

"We have been serving breakfast to hunters for ten years," Stacy Larson, a member of Gettysburg UMC, coordinates the breakfast with her husband, Vaughn. "Hunting is big in South Dakota. We serve a breakfast of pancakes, eggs, biscuits, gravy, juice, or coffee on Saturday and Sunday morning."

For the past 11 years, Miller UMC has hosted a hunter's breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings the opening weekend of pheasant hunting. "We serve from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.," said JoAnn Testerman, a member of Miller UMC who coordinates the event. "It takes about 20 volunteers. Some help one day and some both days." 

Both congregations take a free-will donation for the meal. Miller uses the donation to support mission trips or buy a needed item for the church. "It was kind of a fundraiser for the church initially," said Rev. Jeff Adel, Wheatland Parish—Gettysburg and Onida UMCs. "In recent years, half goes to the church, and half goes to a group called Keep Hope Local, a group that Stacy and Vaughan started, which donates money to people with cancer in the Gettysburg area. This year, it was decided that all the funds would go to two members of our congregation dealing with cancer." 

More than 200 people ate breakfast in Gettysburg. "We only have two little restaurants in town, and half the time they're not open, and two convenience stores that are busier than heck," said Stacy. "Each day, we take in about $800."

The crowd at Gettysburg shows up at 7:30 a.m.

The crowd in Miller ranges from 70 to 100 daily, depending on the year, weather, and the bird population. "We have some people from Mississippi and a crowd from Sioux Falls that come each year. There is only one restaurant in town open for breakfast on Sunday," said JoAnn.

Pastor Jeff states that his role is to greet people and stay out of the way. "My role is just cheerleader. I eat, of course. I do some things on the Facebook page to help publicize it. But other than that, I don't have much of a role. They do it all themselves."

When the doors open at 7 a.m. at Miller UMC and at 7:30 a.m. in Gettysburg, people are waiting to be served."There are always people there at 7:30 a.m. They love it. They say they'll be back every year, "said Stacy.

Both Larson and Testerman share that it is inspiring to serve breakfast. "If we quit doing it, it would be a loss to our community. We have fun together. It's always good for the soul," said Stacy.

JoAnn shares that she likes to serve. "If there's a mission going on in church, I got my nose, or my hands, or my hands and my feet involved. I've been on the outreach committee for ten years. We are grateful to people like Merle Jenner, the church's patriarch. He has helped run things."