Pheasants Forever's 2007 Pheasant Population Forecast
Click here to see the Quail Hunting Forecast.
Overview
All across the Midwest and Upper Midwest, signs are pointing to an excellent pheasant hunting season. The typical pheasant powerhouses - South and North Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska - will again top the list. Unfortunately, because of the potential for massive habitat losses this year and next, namely Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres under soon-to-expire contracts, we may soon be referring to 2007 as "the good old days." Key pheasant states, including South Dakota and Iowa, stand to lose literally hundreds of thousands of acres of critical wildlife habitat in the next few years to row crop conversion. That's why now, more than ever, there is a need for all hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to become actively involved in the 2007 Federal Farm Bill process. The Farm Bill will be introduced in the U.S. Senate soon, meaning now is the time to contact your state's Senators and let them know you want a Farm Bill with a strong Conservation Title. After all, CRP and other federal farmland conservation programs accounting for over 50 million acres nationwide are primarily responsible for the birds you'll be chasing this fall.
- Find your state's Senators by logging onto www.PheasantsForever.org/page/LegislativeAction
- Always consult state hunting regulations for rules and season dates before taking to the field. Find your state agency by logging onto www.PheasantsForever.org/page/StateAgencies.
California
Pheasant production during the spring of 2007 period varied geographically in association with rainfall and supplemental irrigation. Habitat on public lands managed for wildlife remained in good to excellent condition, while privately-owned pheasant habitat generally continued to degrade in association with agricultural practices. Exceptions to the latter occurred on a few privately-owned areas actively engaged in intense pheasant habitat management in association with an experimental technique tested on the Little Dry Creek and Howard Slough units of the Upper Butte Basin Wildlife Area. Preliminary results indicate average production on these managed areas. Pheasant production appears to have been below normal in the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento River delta area and Sacramento Valley. Pheasant hunters generally bag about 150,000 wild roosters in California.
Season Opener: November 10
Colorado
Colorado's crow counts were down 40 to 50 percent across the board from one year ago. That drop is not surprising considering the population has been hampered by six years of drought and the past winter in which 2' of snow covered the ground for over 70 days. However, an excellent spring brought improved habitat and nesting conditions, and pheasants have rebounded nicely. The snow cover last year essentially shut down Colorado's pheasant season at the halfway point, leading to a harvest of only 37,000 roosters. Colorado hunters can expect to reach that mark again, and if spring production is as good as advertised, eclipse it. Yuma County in northeast Colorado annually contains the state's number one pheasant harvest, as it rests in the state's best pheasant range - the triangular area from Sterling to Holyoke to Burlington.
Season Opener: November 10
Idaho
After harvesting 98,000 roosters in 2005, Idaho hunters eclipsed the 100,000 harvest mark last season. Though it's been one of the driest years in decades - a dry winter, dry spring and dry summer - state biologist Don Kemner stated that observation reports were again showing a fair number of pheasants, which should again lead to a good pheasant hunting season with a harvest right around six figures. Areas of promise include the north-central part of the state, including near Lewiston and Moscow, where there is quite a bit of CRP land, and the Magic Valley in south-central Idaho, which contains isolated public tracts.
Season Opener: Multiple
Illinois
Hunters in the Prairie State can expect to bag about 200,000 roosters this year, according to John Cole, upland wildlife manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The state's population has remained relatively stable during the decade. This year's pheasant call counts were up 3% from last year, while brood surveys were virtually unchanged. In Illinois, pheasant abundance is severely limited by the amount of available nest and brood cover, but the tide could turn with the enrollment of partial fields, filter strips and field borders in CRP and the establishment of additional grass cover through the Roadsides for Wildlife program. The best places to hunt pheasants are the north-central and east-central parts of the state. Hunters can apply for permits to hunt public State Pheasant Habitat Areas at http://dnr.state.il.us.
Season Opener: November 3
Indiana
Indiana has experienced an adverse drought this year, but there's quite a degree of variability on the effects of that drought on the state's primary northwest pheasant range. Steve Backs, Wildlife Research Biologist with the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife, said the inconsistency of the drought can be seen in a matter of miles in this region. All of which translates into spotty success for Indiana's pheasant hunters, who will be hard pressed to harvest their normal 20,000 roosters.
Season Opener: November 9
Iowa
Despite a March blizzard, an ice storm, and flooding during the spring nesting season, the Iowa pheasant population remained relatively unchanged compared to last year. Iowa's 2007 August Upland Wildlife Roadside Survey saw an average of 27 birds per route across the state, compared with 28 last year. Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, said Iowa pheasant hunters should harvest between 700,000 and 780,000 roosters this fall. Once again, northwest, north-central and central Iowa reported higher bird counts, but small, localized areas of good pheasant numbers were reported in the northeast, east-central and southeast. Unfortunately, Iowa stands to lose a significant amount of crucial habitat before the pheasant season opens on October 27. Iowa is expected to lose almost 200 square miles of CRP habitat after October 1 as farmers plow up land in preparation for row crop conversion next spring to try and meet the needs of the ethanol industry. With no CRP sign-up in 2008, the state is expected to lose another 350-400 miles of CRP after October 1, 2008. Bogenschutz said a habitat loss of this magnitude will certainly mean Iowa's pheasant population will be lower in 2008 and 2009.
Season Opener: October 27
Kansas
The overall forecast for pheasants is again sunny in Kansas. Last year, hunters harvested approximately 600,000 roosters, and hunters should approach that number once again. Excellent nesting conditions this spring has the western one-third of the state looking good. Reports are more mixed in the north central and south central regions, ranging from below average to strong. This stems from scattered heavy rains in late May. From Norton and Phillips Counties in the northwest down to Ford and Stevens Counties in the southwest and all areas in between, hunting should be excellent.
Season Opener: November 3
Michigan
A very mild winter and fair to good nesting season for upland game birds has the state of Michigan in line for its annual harvest of 100,000 pheasants. Michigan's grassland areas, particularly the 276,036 total CRP acres and 60,757 CREP acres, will again benefit the state's pheasants, particularly in the lower third and "Thumb" region.
Season Opener: Multiple
Minnesota
In each of the past two years, hunters in Minnesota have harvested nearly 600,000 roosters, the most since 1964. With favorable pheasant nesting and brood-rearing conditions this year and abundant habitat, Minnesota hunters can expect more of the same. The state's pheasant index remained at its highest level in 20 years, (107 birds per 100 miles driven) topping 100 for the third consecutive year. Protected grassland habitats in the state's pheasant range account for approximately 6 % of the landscape - the highest number in more than a decade - and those areas are the major contributing factor to the increased population. Hunters will want to take note of the southwest portion of the state, where observers reported 223 birds per 100 miles driven; the south-central area, with 121 birds reported per 100 miles driven; and the west-central area, where 118 birds were reported per 100 miles driven.
Season Opener: October 13
Missouri
Last year, 10,400 hunters harvested 34,000 pheasants in the "Show Me State," but with August roadside surveys down 37%, it could be hard to replicate those numbers. The northwest portion of the state is Missouri's number one pheasant region, with the Bilby Ranch Conservation Area outside Maryville being a prime opportunity. The bonus for upland hunters in Missouri's northern tier is the small game grand slam - pheasant, quail, dove and woodcock. Also, to provide more opportunities for hunters ages 6 through 15, the Conservation Commission has established youth-only pheasant and quail seasons. Both seasons take place Oct. 27-28.
Season Opener: November 1
Montana
Montana's pheasant hunters appear to have a favorable season of hunting ahead. A mild winter made for good survival, and timely spring moisture helped insect production and provided good nesting and brood-rearing cover. The only potential pre-season sour notes were drought conditions after mid-June and some notable hailstorms that may have impacted pheasants and other upland game birds in some central and northern plains areas, but pheasant numbers should still be average to above average in those regions. And speaking of averages, last year 155,000 pheasants were harvested, which is well-above the 20-year average of 132,000 birds. Conditions at Ninepipes Wildlife Management Area in northwest Montana indicate a pheasant season comparable to 2006, with better brood numbers and sizes around the moist and irrigated areas on the WMA.
Season Opener: October 13
Nebraska
Although total harvest in 2006 was below the 2005 harvest of 437,000, pheasant hunters experienced above-average success. However, severe snow and ice storms last winter and heavy rains this spring appear to have impacted pheasant populations in some regions. Statewide, the August roadside survey indicated a decline of 5% from last year, while the rural mail carrier survey indicated a decline of 11%. Yet these surveys indicated that pheasant numbers in the northeast, southeast and southwest - the most heavily hunted regions in the state, were comparable to last year. Like last year, the highest abundance of birds can be found in the southwest and northeast regions, followed by the panhandle and southeast regions.
Season Opener: October 27
New Jersey
The last available data showed New Jersey hunters harvesting approximately 3,000 wild pheasants in 2005-2006, and the harvest again this year should be in that ballpark. State biologist Andrew Burnett said New Jersey pheasants, like quail and other wildlife in the state, suffer from both a lack of quantity and quality of available habitat, and it's unknown exactly how many wild pheasants remain in the state.
Season Opener: November 10
New York
Wild pheasant populations continue to hold on in New York at low levels, having declined over 90 percent in the last four decades. Last year, 45,000 hunters bagged around 80,000 pheasants in New York. With a good nesting season, hunters can expect to replicate those numbers again this year. The Lake Plains area of western New York - south of Lake Ontario from Syracuse to Buffalo - continues to contain the state's best pheasant habitat.
Season Opener: Multiple
North Dakota
The forecast again looks bright for North Dakota's upland hunting season, with one of the best recent years expected for pheasants, sharptails and prairie chickens. Good population carryover from last year and decent nesting conditions have contributed to the conditions prime for a banner year, though some fairly heavy rains during peak hatch likely affected reproduction in the southeast corner of the state. State biologist Stan Kohn expects a year comparable to 2005, when NoDaks harvested 809,000 roosters. Traditional pheasant hotspots include the northwest corner of the state, the area around Lake Sakakawea and areas south of I-94, however, Kohn did say that counties just north of the interstate are starting to catch up to southern counties in terms of population.
Season Opener: October 13
Ohio
Though insect production may have been hurt by a dry summer, it appears as though Ohio pheasants on the whole enjoyed a successful nesting season. As a result, hunters in the Buckeye State should expect to reach their annual harvest of 200,000 roosters. Pheasants and hunters both are benefiting from available habitat, thanks to more CRP than ever before in the state - there are currently 362,000 acres of CRP in Ohio. The state's three CREP programs (Lake Erie, Upper Big Walnut and Scioto River) and nearly 13,000 acres of CP33 Quail and upland field borders have added tens of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat to Ohio's landscape.
Season Opener: November 2
Oklahoma
The north central and panhandle portions of Oklahoma represent the state's pheasant range, most notably Alfalfa, Grant, Beaver, Cimarron and Texas Counties. While the state has experienced above average rainfall and even flooding in areas, the northwest part of the state hasn't experienced those extreme amounts. All of which leads state upland game biologist Doug Schoeling to remain optimistic that Oklahoma hunters will be able to eclipse last season's harvest of just over 71,000 pheasants. Schoeling also reported that Oklahoma pheasants appear to be responding positively to CP-33 (upland bird buffers).
Season Opener: December 1
Oregon
With relatively good conditions during the hatch, Oregon hunters are in line for another harvest near last year's total of 40,795. Though the season will likely be below Oregon's three-year average, it should be better than the state's 10-year average. Oregon's best pheasant habitat is found in the Columbia Basin and in northern Malheur County along the border with Idaho.
Season Opener: October 13
Pennsylvania
Pheasant populations in Pennsylvania have been decimated by habitat loss. Over the past three decades, due mainly to losses of suitable habitat, wild pheasant populations have declined dramatically in Pennsylvania, and according to the state are essentially non-existent. However, the state now boasts over 177,000 CREP acres and, in cooperation with local Pheasants Forever chapters, is in the midst of a three-year program to re-establish wild pheasant populations in the "Keystone State." The project appears to be taking hold in the Pike Run Watershed in southwest Pennsylvania, with "crow" counts and flush surveys showing increases.
Season Opener: Multiple
South Dakota
Simply put, South Dakota has the makings of a banner 2007 pheasant season, with pheasant survey routes indicating one of the largest pheasant populations in South Dakota history. In fact, brood count surveys by the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department show an estimated pheasant population that easily surpasses the 40-year high mark set in 2005. Overall, statewide numbers for 2007 are 23% higher than the 2006 counts and 18% higher than the 2005 mark. The growth in population can be attributed to a perfect scenario of weather and habitat conditions at peak hatch. Tom Kirschenmann, Sr. Wildlife Biologist for the S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department, said that with cooperative weather and corn harvest, this year's pheasant harvest could approach 2 million birds. Unfortunately, while the pheasant population has soared, future habitat conditions in the "Pheasant Capital" appear to be at risk. Kirschenmann said that the state is set to lose nearly 300,000 CRP acres this fall. South Dakota, which currently has 1.55 million acres enrolled in CRP, could potentially see that number drop under 1 million acres in a few years. The detrimental effects would be three-fold: The loss of all-important pheasant habitat, as well as fewer public access opportunities, and the resulting downturn in the economic impact visiting hunters have on the state's fall economy.
Season Opener: Multiple
Texas
The word out of the "Lone Star State" is that after a dry year last year, a wetter weather pattern has helped pheasants flourish in the 37-county panhandle region. In fact, some reports say action could be amazing.
Season Opener: Multiple
Utah
Overall, Utah pheasant hunters can expect a decent season in line with 2006, when 16,521 hunters harvested 44,971 birds. A dry spring reduced production, but isolated pockets of birds will still exist in Utah's northern regions. Urban sprawl and a subsequent loss of habitat continues to slow pheasant hunting in the central region of the state, but agricultural lands and marsh areas around Utah and the Great Salt Lake harbor some birds, and there is limited public hunting available on the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve and Powell Slew WMA. In southeast Utah, pheasant populations are significantly lower than in years past, particularly due to farming practices not favorable to pheasant populations. In the southern portion of the state, Millard and Sevier Counties will hold a fair number of pheasants. For public grounds, look to the Clear Lake and Redmond WMAs.
Season Opener: Multiple
Washington
A rainy, cold snap likely hindered first broods, but re-nesting attempts appear to have been successful. What does this mean for Washington pheasant hunters this season? Spotty success, with a harvest at or below the 110,000-115,000 range of the past few years. Look for more success in the southeast portion of the state, including Whitman, Columbia, Garfield and Walla Walla Counties. State biologist Mick Cope also reported a handful of cooperators are taking part in the "Partnerships for Pheasants" program offered by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in which private landowners in southeastern Washington improve habitat adjacent to CRP fields and riparian areas.
Season Opener: October 20
Wisconsin
The Badger State's rural mail carrier survey showed a 22% increase in pheasants, and the outlook for the state's pheasant hunting is equally as good. Wisconsin hunters have harvested 200,000 pheasants annually the past two seasons, and look to hit that mark once again. While the southern half of the state has traditionally been the pheasant stronghold, DNR biologist Sharon Fandel reported that hunters can expect more birds in Dunn, Pepin and Polk Counties in the west/northwest region.
Season Opener: October 20
Wyoming
Pheasant hunters in Wyoming typically harvest 30,000 roosters, but with a drought that again hurt reproduction, hunters can expect a below average year. There should still be birds to be had in Goshen County in SE Wyoming and Big Horn County and the surrounding areas in the north-central part of the state.
Season Opener: Multiple
