South Dakota Pheasants Down Significantly

[Rick]

PIERRE, SD – Months of persistent drought in 2012, a cold, wet spring in 2013 and a reduction in habitat have impacted pheasant brood counts, according to a report released today by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department.

The department’s annual brood count surveys the number of pheasants per mile as a means to track pheasant numbers over time. The actual population size is estimated after the pheasant hunting season ends, with additional information gathered from hunter surveys and a winter rooster-to-hen ratio survey.

The 2013 report indicates an index of 1.52 pheasants per mile, down from 4.19 pheasants per mile last year.

“The annual brood count provides us with a year-over-year analysis tool,” said Travis Runia, GFP’s lead pheasant biologist. “Our numbers may be down from last year, but hunters will still be able to find birds."

GFP conducts the brood route survey each year on select stretches of roads around the state. All pheasants are counted along each route, with particular attention to the number of broods.

“Much of the northern Great Plains experienced the same weather and habitat factors that impacted our brood counts,” Runia said.

Runia noted that lower brood counts in 1992 and 1997 still resulted in almost one million pheasants harvested in South Dakota each year. Since 1992, the state has added 350,000 acres of public access within the main pheasant range, expanding hunting opportunities.

The 2013 pheasant season opens Oct. 19 and runs through Jan. 5, 2014. The Youth Pheasant season will run from Oct. 5 – 9 and the Resident Only season Oct. 12 - 14.

The 2013 Pheasant Brood Survey Report, complete with comparisons for different local areas, can be accessed at http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/pheasant-outlook.aspx.

[TylerS]

Quote:

“The annual brood count provides us with a year-over-year analysis tool,” said Travis Runia, GFP’s lead pheasant biologist. “Our numbers may be down from last year, but hunters will still be able to find birds."

Well duh... as long as the number isn't zero, hunters will always be able to find birds. The point is, that number dropped by more than half in a single year. The G/Os are going to be putting out a lot more pen birds this fall if they want to keep their clients happy about filling out in 15 minutes or less!

[ETH310]

They can blame the weather, but the fact is, last fall it was hard to find a chunk of grassland or cattails, public or private, that hadn't been grazed, hayed, mowed, drained, or burned. Less habitat equals less birds. It really is that simple. I'm surprised the numbers aren't worse than they are.

[walleye18]

Not to be a pessimist but the worst is yet to come. In SD, MN and ND the habitat is going away.

My wife's relatives in ND and area farmers there are clearing the land - planting crops. Cant blame them. Its all about $$.

The waterfowl (duck and goose numbers) - with a reduction in habitat and potholes will follow.

We have seen the best....now were going to see it all slip away. Sad deal.

[B. Amish]

if they would just put more food plots on the remaining grass, that'll fix it.

heavy sarcasm.

[Stcloudangler]

Not to be a pessimist but the worst is yet to come. In SD, MN and ND the habitat is going away.

My wife's relatives in ND and area farmers there are clearing the land - planting crops. Cant blame them. Its all about $$.

Not to blow up a dust storm, but that kind of comment really gets me... It used to be that the farmers were "stewards of the land" and actually took pride of the piece of land they owned. Now everyone is chasing the next ear of corn. I realize that money talks, but how much is enough? Funny when you look at a good farmyard and the nice equipment they have but yet they still complain about "making it this fall".

Only 1% of the original wetlands remain from the european settlement. Think about that.

[walleye18]

it gets me too.

But it is the way things are being done in those areas.

I was out waterfowl hunting in Nov last year. Out in the distance was lots of smoke....cat tail patches and hedge rows being burned. Really sad.

Told my boys (13 and 11), enjoys it now. The times are a changing.

[JConrad]

We need to take away the crop insurance subsidies, ethenol subsidies, and add put more money into the Conservation Reserve Programs.

For the most part the small family farms are going away and it's all about big business.

Our farm community is no longer a "steward of the land".

Thanks big government for your contribution to land stewardship!

Really sad to say the least. Just my humble opinion...

[RumRiverRat]

We do not need to put more money into anything.

It is not the government's job to provide pheasant habitat.

[Scott M]

RRR, I doubt you'd feel the same way if smallmouth bass habitat was being ripped out of the Rum at the proportional rate grassland habitat is disappearing from the Dakotas. I'd doubt even further that you'd care much for the fact that government policy is abetting said habitat destruction.

Wait, does my response mean I've "taken the bait" on this "troll?" Sorry in advance.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Sadly, it's not only the Dakotas. Here in SW MN the trend is to put the grasslands under the plow and plant more corn, mow all the road ditches, and graze/hay the WMA's.

Over the past couple years I've noticed wildlife numbers (not just pheasants) drop quite a bit. In a nutshell, if animals don't have a place to live they won't live very long.

[arrow]

4 days in NE SD on duck trip and zero pheasants seen or heard. Been in this areas many times before and though its not even close to a top area of the state for pheasant we always heard and saw birds. Its a new era in SD and other states with the big money being made in farming and there is nothing that can be done to slow it down. If I was a farmer I would be doing the same thing so I can't put the blame on them. The days of the small family farm are long since gone. Now its a big business and being run like one.

[yakfisher]

Now its a big business and being run like one.

And big businesses are currently running with a profits above all else mentality. It is changing this country in so many ways and many of them are not positive.

[Todd Caswell]

4 days in SE ND waterfowl hunting 400 miles scouting ZERO pheasants seen, very little grass land left and what was left was being burned, great example of our tax dollars being misused, the goverment is to blame as well as the farmer, shame on them..

[walleye18]

was at my place in ND last week for the waterfowl bangin.

Saw one hen and heard one rooster crow. Not a good deal!

Not that long ago, there were "tons" of birds out there. Really sad to see.