Forecast: Generally favorable winter and early spring weather give Idaho pheasant hunters reason to be hopeful.
“We are optimistic about another improved year for upland game birds during fall 2016,” says Jeff Knetter, upland game and waterfowl staff biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
“In Southwest Idaho, great production during 2015 followed by a relatively mild winter and early spring in 2016 were favorable for upland birds. Carryover should be high. Furthermore, spring and early summer conditions during 2016 were good for production,” says Knetter.
He expects the best hunting to occur on private land, where pheasants are most numerous. “But the resourceful hunter can still find roosters on public land along the Snake River and in the numerous riparian areas found in southwest Idaho,” he reports. “The Clearwater Region (Lewiston-Moscow) provides some excellent pheasant hunting opportunities on Conservation Reserve Program lands.”
Here’s a more detailed breakdown by region:
- Panhandle: Pheasants are limited to the southern portion of the region and should exist in numbers similar to last year.
- Clearwater: Hunters will probably see fewer pheasants than last year, but numbers are higher than the 10-year average.
- Southwest: A good population last year and favorable winter and spring weather should result in good pheasant hunting this year.
- Magic Valley: Pheasant numbers are stable but have remained low since the mid-1980s because of loss of habitat. Pheasant stocking will continue at Niagara Springs WMA.
- Southeast: No surveys are conducted in the Southeast, but field observations suggest pheasant numbers are much like last year. Pheasant stocking will continue at Sterling WMA.
- Upper Snake: Field reports suggest an average to slightly poorer-than-average pheasant season. Mud Lake, Market Lake, and Cartier WMAs will continue to receive stocked birds.
- Salmon: Little habitat and few birds.
Season Dates: Area 1 (North): October 8 through December 31, 2016; Area 2 (East): October 15 through November 30, 2016; Area 3 (Southwest): October 15 through December 31, 2016
Daily Bag Limit: 3 roosters
Possession Limit: 9 roosters
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