Nodak Pheasant Opener results

[TylerS]

Not that I actually went out, mind you (I had better sense to chase ducks and geese than those lousy ditch parrots) but the several reports I received from those unfortunate souls making the pilgrimage to hunt pheasants can be summed up thusly: abysmal.

Now, keep in mind there still are plenty of crops on the ground (although most of the beans are off and the corn his getting combined in a hurry) so this weekend's results may not be indicative of truly poor numbers. HOWEVER, when taken into consideration that there are MORE crops down now than at the same time in past years, and the fact that those years may have been tough, but people didn't seem to have a problem shooting roosters, than a person can ascertain that bird numbers are, in fact, down. Way down. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the G&F's outlook of 50%-60% drops may have been far fetched.

Anyway, I think I'm waiting until after deer season to chase roosters. Earlier than that will be a waste of time and energy better used on critters that are actually around...

[lindy rig]

That is a bummer to hear

[ducker]

We were duck hunt last weekend in North Dakota and talked with several parties and they had seen one hen total in very good pheasant cover.

[reddog]

It doesnt appear to be only North Dakota.... Ive been hunting in South Dakota 8 out of the last 14 days, and while its not terrible, its a long way from what is typically expected... 85% of the beans are gone, and about 10% of the corn when I left Sunday..

Spent alot of time driving around in the rain on Sunday scouting ground from Presho to Plankinton right up until dark..... Pretty bleak overall in the territory I drove.

[Shorelunch]

We pheasant hunted opening weekend about an hour from Minot. Saturday, three of us ended up with three roosters and a grouse and partridge. Didn't see too many at all. By far, the most birds we saw (but didn't hunt of course) were 2-4 at a time in occupied farmsteads (where they're probably being fed during the winter). Sunday, four of us hunted and we limited out. Found a few really stupid birds along with some good timing. Still, the most we saw were in occupied farmsteads. Most of our tried and true spots maybe kicked up a few hens and maybe a rooster or two. Obviously numbers are down, but I think many are occupying the standing sunflower and corn. I hope it's a mild winter and spring or . . . all bets are off.

[fivebucks]

We were out about an hour out of Minot also and 4 of us just about got limits every day. We found alot of very young birds from late hatches and then found more mature birds as the days went on. They weren't easy and we worked our tails off for the birds we got. Definately not the numbers as last year but if you pick your spots right you can find some birds. We had a much harder time finding mallards. We found tons of geese around but very few ducks.

[kobear]

Uncle and his annual group hit thousands of private acres around Forman. One or two guys/gals a day got their limit, everybody (7 of them) got at least one bird each day.

They claimed numbers were down 80-90% over previous years.

The character of the land has changed so much in the past few years you can hardly recognize it... here comes the pasture, whoops drained that and buried the stumps.... here comes Train Car, wow what happened to this remember the sloughs and tree rows that used to run across there.... up aheads that Switchgrass roost field we'll have to drive back by here this, what the heck they plowed it under.

If your limited to Public land it's gonna be really tough in ND.

[mnmofro]

Hunted NW ND Monday through Thursday, a couple of buddies were there during the weekend and said the Pheasant numbers were low in our area so I concentrated on Sharpies and Huns. I saw 6 - 7 pheasants in some of the heavier cover areas without trying to find them too hard but the numbers are down from last year. Plenty of the sharpies and huns though, nice weather after a wet Monday.

[pokerface]

talked to some friends who are SW of Dickinson and they have been doing well there and seeing some, but they said its definitly down. Not as much corn there as around central Nodak.

[Jarrod32]

Went out yesterday to try to shoot a couple pheasants in northeast South Dakota. After a few hours of not seeing any pheasants, we figured out that we were duck hunting. Lots of ducks around. We did pick up a couple pheasants toward evening. Ended the day with two pheasants and six ducks between two of us.