LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR RING-NECKED PHEASANT -MINNESOTA

[Rick]

Here is a snippet. Link for entire plan is at bottom of post.

SUMMARY

Minnesota is capable of sustaining high densities of pheasants. Prior to the mid-1960s, pheasant habitat was provided as a byproduct of farming practices, resulting in abundant habitat and pheasants. But the transformation from small, diversified farms to intensive row cropping and confined livestock has dramatically reduced habitat and pheasant numbers. One proven method of increasing pheasant numbers is by increasing the amount of reproductive habitat (undisturbed grass).

The conservation provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill offer the best potential opportunities in 40 years to establish undisturbed grasslands. This plan describes strategies and actions to add 330,000 acres of new grasslands by 2008 (i.e., through the life of the 2002 Farm Bill), raising the average harvest from 360,000 to 450,000 roosters.

Much additional work will be needed after this plan is implemented to achieve the strategic vision of a pheasant harvest averaging 750,000 roosters by 2025. This vision will require an additional 1.56 million acres of habitat development at a minimal cost of $1.6 billion. Such a daunting undertaking is only achievable with an increased emphasis on conservation within future farm programs plus a significant source of new conservation funding (e.g., a dedicated sales tax).

To maximize efficiency, future habitat efforts should focus on balancing reproductive and winter habitat needs within small (9 square mile) landscapes, based on the research and inventory that will be completed under this long range plan.

Long Range Plan (Approved March 8th, 2005) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife 18

LONG RANGE PLANNING FOR RING-NECKED PHEASANT

PRODUCT: Ring-necked pheasants for their recreational, economic, and intrinsic values.

GOAL: Manage wild ring-necked pheasants to provide opportunities for hunting and non-hunting recreation.

OBJECTIVES, PROBLEMS, STRATEGIES, AND ACTIONS:

OBJECTIVE 1: By the year 2008, sustain a mean statewide population of 1.8 million wild ring-necked pheasants yielding a harvest of 450,000 roosters.

Click here to see the entire paper in pdf format. Requires adobe reader.

[kentuck_ike]

My dad & I just put 150 acres in the lifetime crep. It will have a core wintering area, a nesting area, 3 food plots, a pond & a slough. The work starts next spring. The best part is, it is all right out my front door.