PIERRE, S.D.(KCCR)- With the opener of South Dakota’s pheasant hunting season, the number of people flying out of the Pierre Regional Airport rose last month.

City Commissioner Jamie Huizenga (high-zin-ga) says October shows the highest number of enplanements so far this year.

As a federal Essential Air Service airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number in one year, it’s eligible to receive $1-million from the US Department of Transportation.

Denver Air Connection currently provides 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport.