When we were in the Black Hills, the Merriam's we photographed tended to work some steeeeeep topography. We tried to find them in the creek drainage-- easier to navigate and better backgrounds etc
SoDak Indians?? You must be heading to the Rosebud area
For my money-- The Merriam is the best looking of the sub species-- if you can find one with a lot of white on the double ring on his tail--