Pheasants Forever's 2009 Pheasant Hunting Forecast

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Pheasants Forever's Pheasant Hunting Forecast

Overview: Habitat drives pheasant hunting, and the simple truth is that because of the mass exodus of habitat acres from the federal Conservation Reserve Program (1.1 million acres expired last year alone), hunters will find fewer pheasants across much of the core pheasant range than during recent seasons. Another 3.8 million CRP acres will expire this autumn, 4.4 million acres next September, and 21 million acres will be gone from the program by the end of 2012 without a new CRP general signup - of which none are currently scheduled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If you are a pheasant hunter and a conservationist, your most important step should not be taking to the field on opening day. Rather, your voice - and that of the other 2 million pheasant hunters nationwide - is needed to help make the case for CRP. Pheasants Forever is pushing for a new CRP general signup, expansion of the wildlife-friendly CRP practice known as State Acres For wildlife Enhancement (SAFE or CP 38), and expansion of the Upland Bird Habitat Buffers practice (CP 33) also within CRP. You can find more information on taking action and join Pheasants Forever's conservation efforts by becoming a member of Pheasants Forever.

Always consult state hunting regulations for rules and season dates before taking to the field. Find your state agency by logging onto www.PheasantsForever.org/page/StateAgencies.

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California

Continued drought coupled with ongoing habitat loss set the stage for a sub-par pheasant hunting season in California. Though state harvest totals are unavailable, combined state wildlife and federal wildlife refuge harvest last was down 33 percent last year. The Sacramento Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and the Sacramento River/San Joaquin River delta area remain the most notable pheasant hunting destinations in the state, but a spot to keep in the rotation should be the Butte Sink WMA in Butte County.

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Colorado

The pheasant hunting outlook in Colorado has improved significantly compared to recent years, thanks to a tremendously good spring nesting and brood rearing season. With crowing counts 15 percent higher than 2008, hunters should surpass last year's harvest of 41,000 roosters. Colorado's leading pheasant hunting destinations are Yuma, Kit Carson, Phillips, eastern Logan and eastern Sedgwick counties, but don't overlook southeast Prowers County and southeast Baca County. The state's Small Game Walk-In Access Program will offer approximately 200,000 acres for public walk-in hunting in 2009.

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Idaho

Characteristically, pheasant hunting will vary based on the geographic regions of Idaho. Areas that did not receive as much rain and stayed a bit warmer look to have very good classes of birds. Unseasonably cool and wet weather in June settled in the southern portion of the state, while spring conditions were excellent in north Idaho. Still, the highest harvests last year occurred in the southwest, southeast and the Magic Valley regions and those areas should be top producers once again. The Clearwater Pheasant Initiative in the Clearwater Region and the statewide Habitat Improvement Program (HIP) have created fine pheasant hunting opportunities on private land, so those willing to wear through some boot leather as well as knock on doors can find good success.

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Illinois

It appears there will be fewer pheasants greeting hunters in the Prairie State this autumn thanks to a smaller breeding population in the spring coupled with a wet early summer. Though crowing counts were down nearly 18 percent this year, there are still birds to be had in Illinois. Last year, an estimated 29,000 hunters harvested 103,400 pheasants. The number of hunters afield was down by nearly 17 percent, but harvest was steady, meaning daily hunter harvest was up by 25 percent. In other words, hunters are still finding success. The most productive areas for pheasant hunting continue to be in east central and northern Illinois, including Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, McLean, Carroll and Whiteside Counties. Stark County also has a few areas with large blocks of CRP grassland that are still new enough to host good pheasant populations. Habitat-wise, Illinois has 22 township-sized CRP SAFE areas in its pheasant range. Though enrollment has been slow so far, Illinois' three SAFE projects (Prairie Habitat SAFE, Mercer County Pheasant SAFE, and Spoon River SAFE) target pheasants and other grassland species and have the potential to create over 20,000 acres of habitat.

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Indiana

Overall, the Hoosier State's 10,000 pheasant hunters should find birds in numbers similar to last year. Though some severe weather events across moved across the state during the year, Indiana's primary pheasant areas in the northern third of the state were spared. Indiana altered it's spring call count to establish a more reliable survey, which did show a slight increase in calling males. Traditionally, Benton and Newton Counties have been considered the best areas of the state, but pheasant numbers are looking good in northeast Indiana, particularly Steuben County. Funds from the state's game bird habitat stamp have helped the Indiana Department of Natural Resources establish game bird habitat areas, which are managed specifically for pheasants and can produce some of the best hunting in the state. Hunters can register for a chance to hunt game bird habitat areas in Benton, Newton, and White Counties until October 2, 2009 at www.IndianaOutdoor.IN.gov. The Indiana DNR is also addressing the decline in ringneck populations with its pheasant habitat development program, in which wildlife biologists will provide landowners with habitat management plans for their property. For more info, log onto www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild and look under Landowner and Habitat Assistance.

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Iowa

Habitat and weather are what determine pheasant populations, and neither has been particularly kind to pheasants in Iowa recently. Last season, Iowa's pheasant harvest fell to 383,000 – the lowest ever recorded – which is the result of a series of hard winters, abnormally wet and cool spring nesting seasons and massive losses of habitat. Winter hit the northern third of Iowa hard again in 08-09, cool temps hampered spring production, and that's reflected in the state's August roadside survey, which was down 12 percent. The northwest quarter of the state will provide the best hunting this fall, and the larger public lands in this area should hold good numbers. A statewide harvest is expected in the 300,000-350,000 range. Iowa's hopes of a pheasant resurgence hinge on CRP. Current CRP enrollment has dropped by half a million acres in the past two decades, and 85,000 more are set to expire this September. Enrollment for CRP SAFE and Upland Bird Habitat Buffers (CRP Conservation Practice 33) has been strong in Iowa, and more acres could be enrolled in these programs as soon as the USDA makes them available.

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Kansas

Overall, prospects for the pheasant hunting season in Kansas are excellent, and that's coming off a season in which 108,000 hunters harvested 680,000 roosters. Strong breeding populations, plus nice spring nesting conditions and good cover conditions throughout has the Jayhawk state poised for one of its best seasons in years. Preliminary results indicate that northwest Kansas pheasant numbers are at their highest level in a quarter century, as the crowing index there hit a record high this past spring (statewide, the crowing index was at it's second highest level ever). Production in southwest Kansas has substantially improved numbers this year compared to the drought-suppressed numbers of last year. The best hunting will include Cheyenne County in the northwest corner of the state, east to Phillips County along the Nebraska border, south to Pawnee County, west-northwest to Wallace County along the Colorado border, and then back north to Cheyenne County. Some parts of southwest Kansas will also be very good. Pheasant numbers in central Kansas may be down slightly overall, but good to very good locally.

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Michigan

Michigan's annual harvest typically checks in around 100,000 roosters, and this season should venture into that ballpark yet again. The state is now approaching 67,000 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program acres, and Michigan's two CRP SAFE projects are geared toward grassland species, including pheasants. Currently, 1,700 acres are enrolled, and there is potential to enroll up to 10,000 acres.

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Minnesota

Though not grim by any means, Minnesota is preparing for a season that will undoubtedly be unlike recent years which brought statewide harvests of over 500,000 birds. Statewide, the pheasant index was down 27 percent from 2008, when the harvest tipped the scales at 522,000 roosters. The loss of 110,000 CRP acres in two years, a moderately severe winter and a cool, wet spring that reduced early brood survival were the chief culprits. Minnesota pheasant hunters are expected to find birds in about the same abundance as 2004, when 420,000 roosters were harvested. Southwester Minny will again provide the best opportunities, where observers conducting the August Roadside Survey reported 116 birds per 100 miles of survey driven. Good harvest opportunities might also be found in the west-central, central and south-central regions, where observers reported 65, 59, and 53 birds per 100 miles driven, respectively. As Minnesota braces for the expiration of another 63,000 acres of CRP on September 30, cause for optimism includes the nearly 23,000 acres that have been enrolled in Minnesota's Back Forty CRP SAFE, which is specifically aimed at enhancing habitat for pheasants. Minnesota pheasants should also benefit over the next 25 years from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment passed by Minnesotans last year (of which Pheasants Forever was a strong supporter). The Amendment will generate over $100 million annually for Minnesota's Outdoor Heritage Fund.

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Missouri

Will be posted as soon as information is available.

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Montana

It's unlikely that Big Sky pheasant hunting will be as fruitful as last year’s harvest of 127,000 roosters. Prolonged winter with deep snow in the northeastern counties affected carryover, and drought during summer across the Montana Hi-Line from the Rocky Mountain Front to North Dakota state line likely affected brood survival and will limit hiding cover. Crowing counts in northeast and north-central Montana were down. Further south, habitat tends to be more limited, but overwinter survival was better and production/brood survival is generally expected to provide comparable or better pheasant hunting opportunities this fall relative to last fall. Hunting further west in intermountain valleys remains a very limited opportunity due to public access limitations, and pheasant abundance is expected to be near average in these areas. In cooperation with PF and others, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has two habitat farming positions – in Billings and Lewistown – focusing habitat work on lands that are accessible to public hunting. Montana's three CRP SAFE projects are halfway enrolled, providing over 9,600 acres of pheasant winter cover, prairie pothole and sagebrush habitat.

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Nebraska

A mild winter followed by favorable nesting conditions has Nebraska poised for a big pheasant hunting season. Results from the Rural Mail Carrier Survey indicated an increase of 8 percent statewide. Pheasant numbers should be strongest in the southwest portion of the state (up 19 percent), with the northeast (up 5 percent) and the panhandle (up 10 percent) being the next best bets. Southwest Dundy, Hayes, Red Willow, Perkins, Hitchcock and Counties will be dynamite, but the entire 13-county southwest corner of the state will be excellent. The central region of Nebraska doesn't have the same numbers, but the survey indicated an increase of 56 percent there. CRP-MAP availability has changed, so hunters are reminded to scout areas beforehand to make sure areas available last year are still available. Nebraska is looking for more CRP SAFE acres, as the state has nearly met enrollment with nearly 22,000 acres in the Nebraska Upland Birds SAFE and the Nebraska Tallgrass SAFE, both of which benefit pheasants, quail, and other upland species.

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New York

New York’s pheasant population remains at an all-time low, and the salt on that wound is that pheasant production was hindered by wet and cold spring weather. Still, pheasant hunting remains a strong pastime in the Empire State, with over 52,000 hunters harvesting over 110,000 pheasants last year. Those heading afield this fall will want to look to the Lake Plains in western New York. Though much of the state is forested or reverting to forest land, this 13-county area extending from Syracuse to Buffalo below Lake Ontario is still highly agricultural and holds the last vestiges of pheasant habitat.

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North Dakota

North Dakota's pheasant population was hit hard by last winter's brutal conditions - the worst pheasant winter mortality since the record-setting winter of 1996-97. The harsh winter exacerbated CRP loss in NoDak – 570,000 acres have expired since 2005, while another 236,000 acres are set to expire in September and nearly 1.7 million acres are set to expire by 2012. Crowing counts indicated a 25 percent drop in the index from last year, and North Dakota's roadside pheasant survey conducted in late July and August revealed the lowest bird count in more than five years. Total pheasants were down 50 percent statewide from last year, brood observations were down 46 percent, and average brood size was down 13 percent. Overall, a season similar to 2002's 500,000 rooster harvest is expected. Though numbers are down about 40 percent from last year, the southwest part of the state will still likely have the best pheasant numbers.

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Ohio

Thanks to CRP, the pheasant population has remained relatively stable in Ohio in recent years, and this year's pheasant hunting season should be on par – right around a harvest of 160,000. Areas with high concentrations of CRP acres - Williams County in northwest and, Marion, Logan, Union and Wyandot Counties in central Ohio have – consistently have produced the strongest pheasant numbers and provided the best hunting opportunities, but without a new CRP general signup, Ohio could see fairly dramatic declines in its pheasant population in 5-7 years. On the bright side, there are good reports of birds to the South in Ross County, where over 17,000 acres are enrolled in the Scioto Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and the Ohio Grassland and Wetland Complexes SAFE project could enroll up to 11,600 acres in CRP – currently enrollment is at 1,415 acres.

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Oklahoma

Will be posted as soon as information is available.

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Oregon

Oregon's roadside survey showed an increase in pheasant numbers of 50 percent from last year, when 9,700 hunters harvested over 33,700 roosters. The staples of Oregon's pheasant hunting are the Columbia Basin and Northern Malheur County, as these two areas accounted for nearly 80 percent of the pheasant harvest last year. There is also growing excitement about efforts to improve upland game bird habitat on private land in Oregon (of which Pheasants Forever was an initial cooperator), which sprang in Morrow County, and has expanded into the Columbia Basin. Looking for a mixed bag? Oregon offers hunting for 10 species of upland game birds.

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Pennsylvania

The biggest news about pheasant hunting in the Keystone State doesn't have anything to do with hunting just yet. With the help of Pheasants Forever, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is working to restore self-sustaining and huntable pheasant populations in suitable habitat by establishing Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas (WPRAs). So far, the Pike Run, Somerset and Central Susquehanna WPRAs have been showing signs of success. The goal is to achieve a density of 10 hen pheasants per square mile in these areas. Hunting is prohibited, but they can provide good spots to hear and see wild birds, and let the dogs work (dog training is prohibited in these WPRAs from the end of small game season in early February through July 31 each year).

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South Dakota

No question South Dakota will retain the title of "Pheasant Capital" this autumn, but the good news is mixed equally with the bad. First, the good: Last season, 176,000 hunters spent $219.6 million and took home more than 1.9 million birds, and this year's brood survey indicated the fourth highest statewide count in the past 45 years. But the 2009 survey reveals a 26 percent decrease from 2008, mainly attributed to the loss of 24 percent of the CRP land in South Dakota over the past three years. Northeastern South Dakota saw the greatest effect on CRP, losing 18 percent of its CRP acres, or 220,000 acres since 2007. Positive habitat news is that South Dakota leads the nation in CRP SAFE enrollment -nearly 50,000 acres – which includes the South Dakota Pheasants SAFE practice. Excellent pheasant hunting opportunities still abound in SoDak. Top spots will again be around the Chamberlin, Winner, Pierre, Mobridge, Aberdeen, Huron and Mitchell areas. Of note, West River showed a 96 percent increase in the number of birds per mile, from 1.96 in 2008 to 3.84 this year.

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Texas

Will be posted as soon as information is available.

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Utah

Good spring weather, including adequate precipitation, has created a better outlook for pheasant hunters in Utah this year, and the state could top its harvest of 34,000 birds last year. The northern half of Utah holds the best hunting areas, and hunters should not overlook state wildlife management areas. Utah is a treasure for upland bird hunters, offering stun¬ning scenery, a six-month season and more than a dozen species to hunt.

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Washington

Warm spring rains provided good plant growing conditions and favorable hatching conditions this year in Washington. In fact, pilot brood surveys ran in the core of the pheasant focus area averaged 7 chicks per hen. This pheasant focus area in the eastern portion of the state consistently produces more pheasants than any other region. Whitman County is the core of this focus area and a top producing county in the state, followed by the northern agricultural portions of Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla Counties. Grant County in the Columbia Basin is also among the top for production, and Franklin County may be the hidden gem this year with good reports of brood numbers and public lands to hunt. Pheasants Forever also helped pass recent legislation that will increase funding for pheasant habitat projects via the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program, as well as funding that can be spent outside this focus area, including habitat enhancements in Grant, Franklin and Adams Counties.

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Wisconsin

CRP acres in Wisconsin now total less than 500,000 (down from over 700,000 in the mid 1990s). That habitat loss added to long and snowy winters in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, along with a wet and cool spring in 2008, have set pheasant numbers back statewide. Spring crowing counts indicated a 36 percent decrease, and the rural mail carrier survey indicated a 35 percent decrease, so expect the statewide harvest to drop below the 323,000 mark of last year. Top areas for the state's 60,000+ pheasant hunters to target include Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Kenosha Counties, which reported the highest harvests last year, and Lafayette, Washington, St. Croix and Polk Counties, which reported the strongest numbers from the mail carrier survey. Wisconsin pheasants would benefit if the state's prairie and grassland CRP SAFE projects could be fully enrolled to the tune of nearly 10,000 acres.

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Wyoming

Goshen and Bighorn Counties will once again provide the best pheasant hunting opportunities in Wyoming. Wyoming is a great state to go public, and this year Wyoming hunters will have more than 50,000 new acres of walk-in access to private lands and four new Hunter Management Areas which will offer upland hunting opportunities. In total, Wyoming's Hunter Management and Walk-In Area programs provide access to more than two million acres of public and private lands.