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Water Brings Challenges, Renewal to Pheasant Range
As we head into high summer across the core pheasant range, water levels have been the main concern for weather-watching hunters.
While historic flooding has put a damper on expectations for the pheasant hatch in historically top-notch locations, other regions are reporting substantial brood sizes and exceptional nesting conditions.
Large swaths of habitat in Iowa and Minnesota were under water during the peak hatch of early to mid-June. This most certainly had a negative impact on birds. Despite the high-water levels, the silver lining in 2024 is that many states witnessed a shift away from drought conditions with “seas” of green grass across the landscape, no emergency haying or grazing on CRP enrollments, and encouraging reports for our favorite upland bird.
Here is a state-by-state snapshot:
Click on a state to jump ahead to that report, or scroll down to view all.
Iowa
IOWA
After a mild winter that likely resulted in above-normal hen survival across much of the state, the spring months were much wetter and slightly warmer than average in Iowa. There was little snow cover in February or March, and April rainfall and temperatures were both slightly above normal. May continued the above-normal temperature and rainfall trend. Rainfall was more than 90 percent above normal. State climatologists reported May rainfall ranked as the 8th wettest in 152 years of record-keeping.
This marks the first wetter-than-normal spring Iowa has seen in the last five years and led to significant flooding in some parts of the state. This will likely lead to a poor pheasant hatch in Iowa compared to 2023, according to Todd Bogenschutz, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources upland wildlife biologist.
“The historic flooding in northwestern Iowa will no doubt have an impact on birds in that region, and the forecast was already not looking good with May rainfall, so this will only aggravate the situation,” Bogenschutz said. “I expect our best counts will still likely be in the northern and central regions, but likely lower counts in the southeast and south-central regions as well.”
Anecdotal reports from Pheasants Forever’s biologist team area as follows:
Northern Iowa
“Winter and spring observations of pheasants were high. Landowners reporting seeing pheasants in areas where pheasants hadn’t been spotted in quite a few years,” said Farm Bill biologist Cole Anderson. “I’ve heard from a few folks that have seen broods running around… so there are some out there.”
Central Iowa
“We’ve got limited reports of nests and broods. I’ve seen roosters and hens together, and almost stepped on a hen when I found a nest with 11 eggs on June 18,” said Farm Bill biologist Clarissa Bruns. “Currently, I haven’t seen any broods spotted on the road or in CRP.”
Southern Iowa
“Nesting season has been favorable, and I’ve been flushing multiple groups of broods,” said Farm Bill biologist Nick Thompson. “They’re all different sizes, meaning different hatching dates.”
The DNR's August roadside survey is the best gauge of what upland populations will be this fall. The DNR will post its 2024 August roadside numbers on the DNR webpage www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey around September 15.
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Kansas
KANSAS
Despite early rains that came to most regions of Kansas, drought is beginning to take hold in central and western Kansas with moderate to severe drought conditions being reported. Likewise, severe weather has taken its toll on some locations.
“A large hailstorm moved through the region in recent weeks that led to finding dead pheasant chicks in the field,” said Scott Kluge, habitat specialist for Pheasants Forever in Kansas. “Our pheasant population seems to be sustaining itself, but most of the hen pheasants I’m seeing during my field work only have two or three chicks in the brood.” Kluge reported that bobwhite quail seemed to be on the uptick.
Other anecdotal reports suggest that pheasants are faring better in other regions of the state, particularly the northeast, where biologists are reporting a surprising number of ringnecks. Eastern Kansas has completely recovered from drought conditions in recent years and with ample grassy cover, biologists are optimistic about nesting and brood survival.
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Nebraska
NEBRASKA
While parts of Nebraska have also seen some flooding this summer, habitat conditions are looking good overall. After years of dry conditions, 2024 has been a complete turnaround for weather in the Cornhusker State.
“We have been getting above-average rainfall across most of the state,” said Bryan O’Connor, Nebraska’s upland game program manager. “Habitat conditions are far improved from the past few years and should provide good nesting and brooding cover.”
As usual, there has been severe weather across much of the state at times this spring and early summer. Storms in early June around the peak hatch could have had a negative impact on birds, but the overall conditions were close to ideal.
“Field reports are just starting to come in and the few that we have received are looking good,” O’Connor said, “Reports have been of larger broods and good-sized chicks.”
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Minnesota
MINNESOTA
The outlook for Minnesota varies widely in different parts of the state. Like Iowa, parts of Minnesota have been incredibly wet this spring and early summer, and could impact bird numbers in certain areas.
Generally speaking, west-central Minnesota and the northern part of region four have fared better than the southwest and south-central parts of the state.
“Our wet spring, followed by the wet June, has definitely led to some birds being on their second or third nest attempts,” said Nicole Davros, a Wildlife Research Supervisor at the Minnesota DNR’s Farmland Wildlife Populations & Research Group. “Although there is still time left, each re-nesting attempt will have fewer eggs, which just means lower overall productivity for them this year.”
However, following a mild winter, hens were likely in good shape across much of the state when nesting season began. On the positive side, ample rain has also recovered areas of drought across parts of Minnesota, leading to improved habitat conditions in some places.
“Our easier winter gives us a glimmer of hope. We should have had high hen survival, which translates to more hens available to nest this spring and summer,” Davros said. “We are also still seeing many weedy, unsprayed crop fields. These could provide good brood-rearing cover and maybe even some low-quality nesting cover.”
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Montana
MONTANA
The majority of Montana’s upland bird range saw a mild winter followed by a wet and cool spring. Although cold weather can take its toll on newly hatched chicks, moisture is typically a welcomed resource throughout Montana’s rangelands, which have struggled in recent years to break out of a dry pattern.
As of July 10, the U.S. Drought Monitor labeled the bulk of Montana bird country as D0, or abnormally dry. The southeast region of the state contained the only drought-free areas statewide, which should spell good things for the nesting and brood-rearing season.
Anecdotal reports from Pheasants Forever’s biologist team are as follows:
North-Central Montana
Over-winter survival for pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse was excellent with plenty of green grass this spring – nesting conditions for ringnecks and prairie grouse were quite favorable. Pheasant courtship and prairie grouse lekking activity was observed late into the spring season. Haying and grazing activity is starting to pick up steam as we enter mid-summer, so late nesting could potentially be impacted.
Northeast Montana
Pheasants and sharp-tailed grouse had an easy winter in northeast Montana followed by a similar wet and cool nesting season as other parts of the state. Pheasant and sharp-tailed broods started showing themselves late June, with a surprising number of Hungarian partridge in the mix! Only time will tell if the early, cool weather had a major effect on nesting efforts.
Southern Montana
Increases in the number of adult pheasants and broods are being seen across the region, especially near water sources and irrigated agricultural fields. On the prairie grouse front, Pheasants Forever biologists noted a significant increase in lek surveys the past two springs with good numbers of dancing sharptails. Team members reported sharp-tailed grouse lekking as late as June 4, meaning hens with failed nests were returning to lekking sites to breed.
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North Dakota
NORTH DAKOTA
Conditions in North Dakota are looking good as summer continues to progress. The spring statewide crow count was up 37% from last year, and a mild winter was a big help, according to PF State Coordinator Emily Spolyar.
“Historically good pheasant areas have remained steady, and we’re seeing increases in historically lower bird count areas as well,” she said. “Habitat is also looking fantastic. We’re seeing consistent bright green across habitat ranges.”
There have been a few intense storms with hail and strong winds across the state, but overall, the weather has been mild compared to other states in the Midwest so far this nesting season.
“Overall, the team in North Dakota is feeling very optimistic,” Spolyar said. “Despite the good news, however, we can always use more habitat – especially high-quality and high-density habitat where a larger abundance of pheasants are found throughout the state.”
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South Dakota
SOUTH DAKOTA
Like many other states, South Dakota witnessed a very mild winter which carried big numbers of birds into the spring in healthy body condition. If you’re wondering what populations looked like ahead of spring nesting season, Pheasants Forever’s Hardwater and Habitat Video, shot in January 2024, is a great place to start.
“Our biologist team in South Dakota has its finger on the pulse of pheasant populations and nesting efforts due to the amount of time they spend in the field with landowners,” said Matt Gottlob, Pheasants Forever’s state coordinator in South Dakota. “Other than the southeastern corner of the state, which suffered similar flooding catastrophes as parts of Minnesota and Iowa, our nesting season has been ideal in a large majority of South Dakota’s pheasant range.”
Gottlob’s colleagues concur.
Pheasants Forever biologists Dan DeBoer and Thomas Zinter, among other team members in the region, work in an area spanning nearly 150 miles from northeastern South Dakota to the Missouri River. Teammates have documented steady reports of new pheasant broods the last week of June through the early July holiday weekend.
“The grassy habitat we currently have throughout the state, along with timely soft rains, has produced amazing conditions for pheasant production,” said Zinter. “The smallest brood I’ve seen so far is seven chicks, with many containing 10+ birds. Landowners are reporting similar findings, and most are very happy with what they’re seeing on the landscape thus far.”
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Although we can’t control the wrath of Mother Nature, it is nice to know she’s on our side at times throughout the nesting season. Looking ahead, it seems that that sunny and warm weather (finally) will dominate many of the top-producing pheasant states, with high hopes for late-hatched broods as summer progresses and we begin moving toward fall.
Enjoy the warm weather, set aside recreational mowing for the next couple of weeks, and keep your eyes peeled on the side of the road for any broods. There is still time for the pheasant hunter’s best friends – persistent hen pheasants – to make the most of the nesting season they’ve been given.
Help ensure pheasants continue to thrive across the landscape. Join us in our mission to protect and enhance quality pheasant habitat. Your support makes a significant difference! Become a Pheasants Forever member at pheasantsforever.org/join.