The report from the largest Iowa newspaper, huntress Juli Probasco-Sowers, gives us some statistics that are not positive for those sportswomen and men who like to head out after the Ring Necked Pheasant. Iowa Pheasant season is slated for October 25th, 2008 and runs through January 10th, 2009.
Last year I noticed a definite population decline in our neighborhood and this year, even though I have heard birds in the area, I only saw a total of three. Maybe not out at the same time they are.
Weather has definitely been a stress factor in bird health. With expanding local populations of turkey, predatory animals like coyote and fox can also create a lower number for growth . Any birds that do survive the weather are faced with other challenges for survival.
Even though Sadie, who will be six months old on the 18th of this month, won't be on the Pheasant trail this year. We are going to be waiting until next year when she will have some age behind her...and listen to commands a little better.
Here's wishing success to all those hunters who are looking to get out after that smart Upland bird the Pheasant! ;)
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Iowa Pheasant News
News I have been waiting to hear sounds a bit bleak.
The report from the largest Iowa newspaper, huntress Juli Probasco-Sowers, gives us some statistics that are not positive for those sportswomen and men who like to head out after the Ring Necked Pheasant. Iowa Pheasant season is slated for October 25th, 2008 and runs through January 10th, 2009.
Last year I noticed a definite population decline in our neighborhood and this year, even though I have heard birds in the area, I only saw a total of three. Maybe not out at the same time they are.
Weather has definitely been a stress factor in bird health. With expanding local populations of turkey, predatory animals like coyote and fox can also create a lower number for growth . Any birds that do survive the weather are faced with other challenges for survival.
Even though Sadie, who will be six months old on the 18th of this month, won't be on the Pheasant trail this year. We are going to be waiting until next year when she will have some age behind her...and listen to commands a little better.
Here's wishing success to all those hunters who are looking to get out after that smart Upland bird the Pheasant! ;)
The report from the largest Iowa newspaper, huntress Juli Probasco-Sowers, gives us some statistics that are not positive for those sportswomen and men who like to head out after the Ring Necked Pheasant. Iowa Pheasant season is slated for October 25th, 2008 and runs through January 10th, 2009.
Last year I noticed a definite population decline in our neighborhood and this year, even though I have heard birds in the area, I only saw a total of three. Maybe not out at the same time they are.
Weather has definitely been a stress factor in bird health. With expanding local populations of turkey, predatory animals like coyote and fox can also create a lower number for growth . Any birds that do survive the weather are faced with other challenges for survival.
Even though Sadie, who will be six months old on the 18th of this month, won't be on the Pheasant trail this year. We are going to be waiting until next year when she will have some age behind her...and listen to commands a little better.
Here's wishing success to all those hunters who are looking to get out after that smart Upland bird the Pheasant! ;)
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4 comments:
I have a pheasant hunting operation in South Dakota and we have record numbers of birds again this year. There has been a big decrease in CRP land though and next year looks a little bleak.
cory glauner - I love South Dakota. Both South Dakota and North Dakota certainly have super pheasant populations.
Last year the DNR mentioned after the opening day that CRP reduction in portions of our state have also led to dwindling numbers...It will probably take quite a while for us to get back to where we used to be for plentiful pheasant again.
That's a bummer - I used to hunt pheasants all the time when I was a kid, but when we moved to Idaho, the population of birds in our new area wasn't near what it was in the part of Oregon I'd moved from and I haven't hunted pheasant in many years. Sure do miss eating them - tasty birds!
Tom Sorenson - The reason I decided to go after the Pheasant was because of childhood memories of eating them. One day I will be successful in bringing at least one home.
If all else fails here, I might head up to North Dakota, where my youngest daughter lives. They have a super pheasant pop-ulation from what I have seen on our visits there.
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