2006 rooster harvest?

[123fish]

When does the DNR release the numbers for last year's pheasant season?

[jwhawkridge]

Here's the most recent I found

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1152652237

Favorable weather and nearly 2 million acres of grassland protected under farm conservation programs made 2005 one of the best pheasant hunting seasons in 40 years.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), hunters harvested 585,000 pheasants last fall – the highest harvest since 1964 – well above the 2004 harvest of 420,000 birds

[123fish]

Well the date on that release for 2005 was July 11th so it will probably be a while yet.

[koonie]

I'd like to know the "real" number of roosters harvested. I know it's impossible, but I'd like to know how close the DNRs count is to what actually got harvested. In 27 years of pheasant hunting I've never personally known anyone who has been asked by the DNR: "How many pheasants did you harvest last year?"

[123fish]

That's a good point koonie. In 40+ years of rooster hunting I never been surveyed either or know of someone who has. Is there even an official survey?

[Flatlander]

I received a survey card in the mail 2 years ago. They ask if you hunted various birds and critters. If so, how many days you spent chasing each type of bird or critter. And how many of each type of bird and critter did you harvest. And if you don't send back in, (mine got lost in a pile of junk), they will send you another card, which I promptly sent in.

[tybo]

Here's the DNR report for 2006.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/news/releases/index.html?id=1185307180

[123fish]

Thanks tybo. Should be just as good this year here in the southwest from what I have been seeing. Just wish they would leave those ditches unmowed. With it being so dry I have never seen ditch mowing as prevalent as it is this year.