Predictions of the August Roadside count.......

[tweedlap]

I, optimistically, predict a 90 to 100% increase in the statewide average.

Please, God, let me be correct.

tweed

[lawdog]

Just depends on whether its sunny/rainy/foggy weather that one single day they can count. Single least reliable number we hear every year, complete joke!

[Eric Wettschreck]

amen

[OUTDOORNUT]

The DNR should save the $$ on the roadside counts. Send a survey to area farmers and the rural mail carriers. They'll tell you what is on the roads and how the numbers look.

[koonie]

The roadside counts are a pretty lame way to predict fall hunting but it does give some indications of what to expect. I'm still trying to figure out how the DNR figures out how we shot 500,000 roosters last fall. Is there a hunter survey I don't know about? It's not a survey question when you buy a license. Any ideas?

[lawdog]

Quote:

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I'm still trying to figure out how the DNR figures out how we shot 500,000 roosters last fall.

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2nd least accurate/useful number we hear all year...

[Rost]

Yeah, I had a buddy that was hired to do roadside counts for the DNR. He lied about what he saw. If he saw 20 birds, he reported 10. His little way of preventing the masses from invading SW MN after the report is published I guess.

You'd think that with all of the miles a game warden puts on, they'd be able to report what they're seeing instead of hiring a college kid.

[setterguy]

On a one year basis the numbers may be off but over time road side count numbers can be compared to other years and give us SOME idea as to what management stratagies are working or not working in different sections of the state. Lake surveys aren't always accurate, but comparing against other surveys gives you a fair estimate on how certian populations are doing, same thing. If you look at the roadside count numbers for a certian area, then look at harvest numbers in that same area, they usually mirror each other to some degree. Also they like to have lots of statistics when they go asking for the $$$.

[doubleUcubed]

I've driven pretty much the same 50 mile (25 each way) drive everyday for the past 15 years. Mostly back tar roads and gravel. Probably the most birds I've seen in those years. Lot's of different sized broods too, some of the older ones you can see the color coming along nicely and then there are little ones the size of a dove! Should be a great fall of pheasant hunting for those who hunt them!

[CodyDawg]

setterguy, I agree. They sure match up well with the harvest numbers. although there is some ambiguity in the way they collect the data, that is why they run the same route 5 times. over time, the numbers are pretty accurate. they are quick to point out, the numbers are not to be brought down to the local level. they are regional type numbers. all in all, they do a pretty darn good job. surveying farmers would be a joke, I cant tell you how many times the farmer says "I havent seen many birds this year on my place" and I go out and they are everywhere.

[2thepointsetters]

Quote:

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I cant tell you how many times the farmer says "I havent seen many birds this year on my place" and I go out and they are everywhere.

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I started laughing when I read that. That happened to me 2 or 3 times last season.

[Blaze]

Well, the results are in on the DNR HSOforum. Numbers are "similar" to last year, and even up slightly. I always find it interesting to look at the zones they define and look at how many birds there are per mile in different areas. Also, the dove count this year is supposedly up 50% over 2005. From what I've seen this year, I'd believe that one.

[harvey lee]

I would agree with having a few farmers or rural mail carriers do the counts.You also could have the people that do the spraying of crops do a count.I use to help a friend in a fertilizer plant apply fertilizer,chemical and such to the farmers fields and we pretty much could tell you where the birds were and how many from year to year.The CO's could also do a very good road count.

Many better ways to figure the bird populations.

[OUTDOORNUT]

So what is up with the area along the MN River in the SW part of Renville County? Did someone drop a pheasant bomb in that 20+ mile radius? I know Renville has draintiled almost everything, but that area on the map is down every year?

Check it out:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/outdoor_activities/hunting/pheasant/prospectsmap06.pdf

[brittman]

This area in Renville county has many pheasants where habitat is in CREP or CRP, but the amount of habitat acres is much less than surrounding counties.

Thus when you are driving your pheasant count route - you simply do not see many birds compared to regions of MN with better and more dispersed habitat.

Note the disclaimer on the chart. Regions reported poor will have pockets of good pheasant densities.

Unless you have private land to hunt in this area, the amount of public land is low and there are better places to target.

[brittman]

A few more points.

The SW region's gain actually carries the state's population increase. Many other areas of MN saw no change or a decrease. The areas of "good" density appear to decrease on across the pheasant range.

Compare this data to SD. They report birds per mile. If you times their number by 100 ==> the SD bird densities range from 300 to 1000 birds per 100 miles.