09-25-2004, 02:29 AM
Based on roadside brood count information gathered during late July and August, the 2004 pre-hunt pheasant population is down about 15 percent from 2003, according to Stan Kohn, upland game bird biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.
Brood observations statewide were down 7 percent from last year, and average brood size was down 14 percent. "We must remember that we are comparing 2004 production data to last year when a bumper crop of pheasants led to a record harvest of nearly 600,000 roosters," Kohn said.
Cool, wet weather during the peak of the hatch in mid-June likely caused chick mortality, Kohn said, resulting in fewer young observed in July and August. "I suspect most of those chicks that made it to the two-week age stage were able to survive through the remainder of the summer as the weather improved and insect production was good," Kohn added.
The northwest corner of the state showed the biggest decrease in total pheasants at 44 percent. The central part of the state was down 20-50 percent, Kohn mentioned, but some localized areas will produce a fair number of birds. The southwest portion of the state was down 35 percent, but surveys indicated a 35 percent increase in the southeast. "The southeast corner actually showed nice increases in total birds and broods observed," Kohn said. "Hunting in this area likely could be similar to 2003."
Kohn points to the southeast, and then south of Interstate 94 west to the Montana border as viable areas. "Hunters are going to find fewer young birds and fewer total pheasants if hunting elsewhere," he added, "especially if hunting in the northwest corner of the state."
Hunters this fall are likely to find pheasant numbers similar to 2002, Kohn mentioned, when 517,000 birds were harvested. "Pheasant numbers this year will still be fair in many areas, but not approaching the numbers of last fall," he said.
Last year, hunters in North Dakota harvested 592,000 roosters. Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken were Hettinger, McLean, Stark, Burleigh, Emmons and Sargent.
Boosted by last year's high total, the average annual harvest in the last decade was 329,000, with last year's figure reaching the 10-year high, up from a low of 136,000 in 1997.
The 2004 season opens Oct. 9 and continues through Jan. 2, 2005. Limits are three roosters daily and 12 in possession. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset each day. Hunters should refer to the North Dakota 2004-05 Small Game Guide for regulations.
Hunters are reminded that Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas are open to hunting by resident hunters only from Oct. 9-15. Nonresidents, however, can still hunt those days on other state owned and federal lands, or private land.
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Brood observations statewide were down 7 percent from last year, and average brood size was down 14 percent. "We must remember that we are comparing 2004 production data to last year when a bumper crop of pheasants led to a record harvest of nearly 600,000 roosters," Kohn said.
Cool, wet weather during the peak of the hatch in mid-June likely caused chick mortality, Kohn said, resulting in fewer young observed in July and August. "I suspect most of those chicks that made it to the two-week age stage were able to survive through the remainder of the summer as the weather improved and insect production was good," Kohn added.
The northwest corner of the state showed the biggest decrease in total pheasants at 44 percent. The central part of the state was down 20-50 percent, Kohn mentioned, but some localized areas will produce a fair number of birds. The southwest portion of the state was down 35 percent, but surveys indicated a 35 percent increase in the southeast. "The southeast corner actually showed nice increases in total birds and broods observed," Kohn said. "Hunting in this area likely could be similar to 2003."
Kohn points to the southeast, and then south of Interstate 94 west to the Montana border as viable areas. "Hunters are going to find fewer young birds and fewer total pheasants if hunting elsewhere," he added, "especially if hunting in the northwest corner of the state."
Hunters this fall are likely to find pheasant numbers similar to 2002, Kohn mentioned, when 517,000 birds were harvested. "Pheasant numbers this year will still be fair in many areas, but not approaching the numbers of last fall," he said.
Last year, hunters in North Dakota harvested 592,000 roosters. Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken were Hettinger, McLean, Stark, Burleigh, Emmons and Sargent.
Boosted by last year's high total, the average annual harvest in the last decade was 329,000, with last year's figure reaching the 10-year high, up from a low of 136,000 in 1997.
The 2004 season opens Oct. 9 and continues through Jan. 2, 2005. Limits are three roosters daily and 12 in possession. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset each day. Hunters should refer to the North Dakota 2004-05 Small Game Guide for regulations.
Hunters are reminded that Private Land Open To Sportsmen acreage and state wildlife management areas are open to hunting by resident hunters only from Oct. 9-15. Nonresidents, however, can still hunt those days on other state owned and federal lands, or private land.
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