Forecast: Texas pheasants continue to rebound from the state’s drought of the last several years. Although the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department won’t conduct surveys until October and November, wildlife managers expect good hunting.
“Pheasant numbers showed a moderate bounce in 2015, and we anticipate another bump this year,” says Calvin Richardson, district 2 leader for the department. “Landowners and biologists have been seeing a few more birds this summer, including some localized concentrations. Pheasant hunters should find fair to good hunting opportunities this year, especially in areas with irrigated grain crops adjacent to good cover such as playas or CRP that has not been hayed or grazed.”
The rise in pheasant numbers represents a long recovery from Texas’ recent rainfall woes. “One of the worst droughts ever in 2011–13 knocked ‘em in the head, like all upland birds,” says Richardson. “Slight recovery in 2014 with rainfall that approached average. Above average rainfall last year—2015—helped pheasants a little and quail and prairie chickens a lot. Above average rain this year in the Rolling Plains and average rainfall on the High Plains should allow the positive trend to continue.”
Incidentally, the improved rainfall helped produce the highest count for quail in the past four decades—an average 53 birds per 20-mile route.
“As usual, some of the better pheasant numbers will be found in Dallam, Hartley, Hansford, Sherman, Ochiltree, Deaf Smith, Moore, Carson, and Roberts counties,” says Richardson. “Although a little more inconsistent in distribution, Swisher, Briscoe, Castro, and Parmer counties will be supporting a few birds in localized situations.”
Season Dates: December 3, 2016 through January 1, 2017
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 6
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