Forecast: Favorable crow counts and brood sightings, combined with generally mild winter and spring weather, suggest hunters will find average to better-than-average hunting though most of Montana’s pheasant range.
“Should be a very good season,” says John Vore, game management bureau chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
In region 6, ideal summer conditions have contributed to high production of young pheasants, especially in the far northeastern corner of the state. Much the same is true in region 4 in north-central Montana, except “those localized areas hit by weather events,” according to Region 4 Wildlife Manager Graham Taylor. (The loss of CRP acreage in the northern tier of regions 4 and 6 will hurt pheasant hunting in the long run.)
In region 7 in the southeast, a mild winter contributed to good over-winter survival. Spring crow counts indicated a population 20 percent above the long-term average. Unfortunately, heavy thunderstorms during the peak hatching period may have trimmed nest and chick survival in local areas.
Regions 5 and 3 in the south-central and southwestern part of the state also expect hunting better than last year.
In region 1, wetter weather in spring and summer provided better habitat than last year’s. Production appears good on Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area. Conditions were also good in the Flathead Valley.
Season Dates: October 8, 2016 through January 1, 2017
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 9
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