Pheasants

I drove from Knoxville to Rochester, Mn a couple weeks ago. I actually saw Pheasants in the Rochester area. Way more than I’ve seen in Iowa in recent years.
DNR says habitat and weather (snow,rain) are the reasons for the lack of birds in Iowa. I can’t see Mn. having any better conditions. I blame other things for our lack of birds. Your thoughts ??

The efforts of PF and private individuals have helped the population here, but winters like this one are going to be brutal.

The reason you saw so many birds is that the deep snow is forcing them onto the main roads to eat rocks because the gravel roads are still snow covered. With the ditches completely white, it’s a lot easier to see the birds, too.

This year the snow cover makes it tough for wildlife. Every year food gathering is tough in the winter due to fall tillage. A dozen years ago I went organic for many reasons not least of which was the dependence on herbicides and pesticides for the control of weeds and insects. I truly believe that our inability to carry a decent pheasent population is directly related to the use of herbicides and pesticides. After all they are poison and the pheasents as well as the rest of the wildlife live and make a living where we spray and spread this stuff. They also end up in our fishing hole.

There is one thing pheasants need and it’s cover. One thing Mn is short on. Ditch to ditch plowing and draining every wetland continues to be the biggest nemesis for establishing a viable population. Throw in a winter like this and it sets back the population several years.

Right you are Kooty. Same things here. Tear out any cover for another stalk or two of corn. No brushy-weedy creeks, no fence lines, and what cover there might be with corn stalks and stuff is chisle plowed under long before it gets cold and snowy. I miss the good old days when if you didn’t get your birds in few hours meant you we a lousy shot!

Koots has it right. throw in 3 bad winters in a row in Iowa and there haven’t been many birds down there for a few years. With the loss of CRP and an excelent fall harvest because of the cool dry fall not only are all the fields picked but they have been tilled up as well. This winter is putting the hurt on the birds big time in ND, SD, MN and IA. The birds are coming to the roads bad in ND. If we dont have a perfect nesting season I predict the bird count will be down significantly in all four states.

Dad left 20+ acres of corn standing for his birds this year. Prior to getting snow, he would knock down a bunch of rows with the tractor. It’s amazing how clean those ears get picked. Now the snow is so deep, they can walk right up to the ears. He figures he has over a 1000 birds wintering in his trees and food plots.

Here is how good SD can be. Taken at Christmas time, before SD started really getting snow. This pic was taken at a 15 acre corn/millette plot surrounded by CRP with a flowing well/creek right next to it. I deer hunt this farm, my best friend from high school.

The good thing about SD, a lot of guys feed cattle all winter long. It really helps the birds.

Good for Dad. He must not be a real farmer if he puts the wildlife welfare ahead of making more money.

that is a great shot Kooty, there is no shortage of pheasants in SD and they will weather the winter well, I think where we see the most harm is the wet spring following a tough winter and freezing rain is the hardest on them.

Dad raises 12k of pheasants each year for game farms. His food plots are dedicated to the deer and pheasants. Of course we benefit by having great hunting.

I agree Chomps, the freezing rain is the hardest on birds especially if the good cover is still filled in with snow drifts. A quick heavy snow with wind will also bury a bunch of birds each year.

While the numbers may go down in SD this year, it will still be the best place in the nation to hunt the ol’ ringneck. I understand folks have to give up a few dollars to leave cover and I don’t begrudge them for not doing it.

you say you saw pheasants, how many where HENS. that is what counts. we have about 20 roosters but only 6 or 7 HENS. the big question is how many of those HENS survive the winter and the predators that hunt all winter.