Reprinted from Pheasants Forever

IOWA—PHEASANT NUMBERS JUMP SECOND YEAR RUNNING
Forecast: Iowa’s roadside count showed the second straight year of increasing pheasant numbers. The statewide index of 24 birds per route represented a 37 percent increase over last year and a 260 percent increase over the all-time low set in 2013. The highest concentration of birds occurred in the northwest.

“Several favorable winters have helped us recover bird numbers statewide,” says Todd Bogenschutz, upland game biologist and farmland coordinator for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “The pheasant index in the northwest, central, and southeast regions is at or above the long-term average. So where pheasant habitat is available, hunting should be pretty good in these regions. Counts improved in most other regions, and hunting should be better than last year. But the number of birds will be less than the long-term average.”

The statewide index is the highest it has been in eight years—before five consecutive winters with more than 30 inches of snow drove pheasants to the lowest numbers ever.

But while this year’s roadside index is 52 percent above the 10-year average, it remains some 40 percent below the long-term average, reflecting deleterious changes in farming in much of the state’s pheasant range.

“We continue to lose habitat, particularly CRP, like many other Midwest states, but with lower crop prices we are seeing strong interest among landowners for CRP on marginal lands,” says Bogenschutz. State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), a continuous CRP practice, has enrolled over 100,000 acres statewide.

Season Dates: October 31, 2015 through January 10, 2016
Youth Season Dates: October 24 & 25
Daily Bag Limit: 3

MINNESOTA—GOOD WEATHER BOOSTS BIRDS A THIRD

Forecast: “The mild winter and good nesting season conditions helped give our pheasant population a boost this year, which should mean a good fall hunting season in many areas,” reports Nicole Davros, upland game project leader for the Department of Natural Resources. “The southwest, west-central, and east-central regions had the highest roadside indices, and hunters should have the best luck in those regions.”According to Minnesota’s August roadside survey, the range-wide pheasant index was 33 percent higher than last year.

The roadside index showed the biggest increases in the southeast (138 percent) and east-central (126 percent). The southwest (23 percent), west-central (31 percent), and central (44 percent) regions also showed significant increases. The south-central region (-2 percent) remained similar to 2014. The best opportunity for hunting appears to be in the southwest, west-central, and east-central regions, where birds are most plentiful.

Despite the improvement over last year, Minnesota’s pheasant index remains 39 percent below the 10-year average and 59 percent below the long-term average (1955–2014).

“Over the long-term, the trends for pheasants and grasslands in Minnesota are still concerning,” says Davros. “Our pheasant population is especially reliant on grasslands enrolled in the CRP program, and we have lost a significant amount of CRP since 2007 with the potential for even greater loses still to come if CRP contracts are not renewed or new lands are not enrolled in the program.”

Season Dates: October 10, 2015 through January 3, 2016

Daily Bag Limit: 2; changes to 3 on December 1, 2015 through end of season
Possession Limit: 6; changes to 9 on December 1, 2015 through end of season
Possession Limit: 12

NEBRASKA—PHEASANTS RESPOND TO FAVORABLE RAINS
Forecast: A mild winter and timely—but not excessive—spring rains have created ideal conditions for pheasants in Nebraska. Results from the July rural mail carrier survey show that pheasant numbers are up significantly in all regions of the state compared with last year. Statewide pheasant numbers increased 55 percent, according to the survey.

Best hunting will probably be found in the southwest region, which showed an 83 percent improvement over last year. Top counties, based on the survey and staff observations, were Hitchcock, Perkins, Furnas, Hayes, and Frontier.

Also excellent will be the Panhandle, where pheasant numbers jumped by 132 percent. Best counties are Sheridan, Box Butte, Cheyenne, and Banner.

Despite hard rain and hailstorms, other regions of the state also show significant increases in pheasant numbers. The central region recorded a 52 percent increase, the northeast 23 percent, Sandhills 17 percent, and southeast 64 percent.

According to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, “CRP loss continues in the northeast, affecting overall abundance and access.”

Season Dates: October 31, 2015 through January 31, 2016
Youth Season Dates: October 24 & 25 (designated WMAs only; age 15 or younger; daily bag limit 2, possession limit 4)
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12

NORTH DAKOTA—PHEASANTS RESPOND TO FAVORABLE WEATHER

Forecast: North Dakota hunters can look forward to better hunting this year. Summer roadside counts show that statewide pheasants are 30 percent more abundant than last year.”Our late summer roadside counts indicate pheasant hunters are going to find more birds in the southern half of the state this fall, with the southwest having the strongest population of young roosters,” says Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Data from southwestern North Dakota indicate total pheasants are 34 percent higher than last year. Observers counted 25 broods and 207 birds per 100 survey miles.

In the southeast, birds are 27 percent more abundant than last year. Observers counted eight broods and 62 birds per 100 miles.

In the northwest, pheasant numbers were down 18 percent compared with last year. Observers recorded six broods and 46 birds per 100 miles.

In the northeast, the number of birds was down 17 percent from last year. Observers noted two broods and 15 birds per 100 miles. Pheasant habitat general lacks good winter cover in this area.

Despite the favorable forecast, Kohn shares the concern of many pheasant biologists—continued loss of CRP acres and native grassland conversion. “All of this affects the amount of nesting and brood rearing habitat on the landscape. As we lose grassland habitat we lose ground nesting bird populations,” Kohn said.

Season Dates: October 10, 2015 through January 3, 2016 (exception – delayed opener area opens October 17, see season info link below)
Youth Season Dates: October 3 & 4 (age 15 and younger)
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12

SOUTH DAKOTA—MILD WINTER BOOSTS PHEASANT NUMBERS

Forecast: South Dakota’s pheasant population appears to be roaring back. Even though roadside survey results in all but two regions lag behind the state’s 10-year average, the statewide average has jumped 42 percent over last year. According to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, the statewide index is similar to 2011 when hunters shot 1.56 million roosters.Regions with the highest bird counts are perennial hotspots of Chamberlain, Winner, and Pierre. Yankton and Sioux Falls were the two regions that surpassed their 10-year averages. Regions lagging farthest behind the 10-year average are Watertown, Brookings, and Aberdeen.

The key to the strong recovery through most of the state was a mild winter that ensured a lot of birds entered the nesting season. Spring weather started dry but habitat perked up with moderate rains.

“Bird numbers are higher in parts of the state where quality habitat conditions still exist, primarily on grasslands including those enrolled in CRP, as well as fields of cereal crops such as winter wheat,” says GFP Secretary Kelly Hepler.

Season Dates: October 17, 2015 through January 3, 2016
Resident-Only Dates: October 10, 2015 through October 12, 2015
Youth Season Dates: October 3, 2015 through October 7, 2015 (ages 12 through 17, daily bag limit is 3, and possession limit is 15; Resident mentored hunt program exists for youth ages 10 through 15, may hunt any open small game season.
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 15

Field Notes: Season dates true for all of South Dakota except the following—Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Brown County; Renziehausen Game Production Area and Game Bird Refuge in Brown and Marshall Counties: Gerken Game Bird Refuge in Faulk County and White Lake Game Bird Refuge in Marshall County—which are open December 8, 2015 through January 4, 2016