Iowa Pheasant Hunting
For the third consecutive year, Iowa pheasant numbers are down. The Iowa pheasant population is lower by 32 percent this year, and that may be good news in light of the extremely harsh weather conditions the state's pheasant population has endured the past seven months.
During last year's August roadside survey, a statewide average of 27 birds were seen per route, and hunters followed by harvesting nearly 632,000 roosters. This year, that number dropped to an average of 18 birds per route, but that was about half of the loss originally feared, according to Todd Bogenschutz, wildlife biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The decline can be directly attributed to a long period of snow and ice cover from December to mid-March, which hurt hen carry-over, and the heavy rains and cooler temps in the spring and the early summer floods that killed chicks and wiped out nests.
The population is expected to rebound next spring if the weather cooperates, but losing over 300,000 CRP acres to the plow will hurt recovery efforts. Bogenschutz also expects the number of pheasant hunters in Iowa to drop this year from 110,000 to 100,000.
Season Opener: October 25
Featured Iowa Guides, Outfitters, Lodges
More listings here along with the full Iowa directory.
Iowa News Headlines
Recent pheasant news, articles, reports from the state of Iowa, pheasants forever and other sources.
- Nesting Forecast Points to Increase in Pheasant Numbers - Jun. 09, 2009
- PF Names O'Connor Director of Conservation Programs for Iowa - May. 13, 2009
- Le Grand, Iowa Woman Wins 2009 Pheasants Forever/Chevy Truck Giveaway - Mar. 30, 2009
- Iowa PF Chapter Receives No Child Left Indoors National Award - Feb. 25, 2009
- Iowans Will Decide on Sustainable Natural Resource Funding in November 2010 - Feb. 20, 2009
- Pheasants Forever Ready to "Reload Iowa" - Feb. 19, 2009
- Iowa Pheasants Forever Announces 2008 Habitat Accomplishments - Jan. 12, 2009
- Early Ice Causes Concern for Pheasants and Quail - Dec. 30, 2008
- Pheasants Heading for Cover - Dec. 09, 2008
- Hunting Injury in Ida County - Nov. 02, 2008
