North Dakota Pheasant News
(PF)
2010 North Dakota Pheasant Hunting Forecast
Sep. 13, 2010Forecast: North Dakota was expected to check in around a 500,000 pheasant harvest last year, and exceeded that with a 650,000 bird take. And though crowing counts were down six percent this spring, overall nesting conditions improved by June across many parts of the state this spring and early summer, which should give NoDak pheasant hunters plenty of optimism heading into fall. Although more snow fell this winter as compared to last, pheasants pulled through very well and populations were stable as spring approached. There were snow showers into May this spring, but as pheasants prepared to sit on nests, conditions were good. With a wet spring and many rain showers, North Dakota greened up quickly. Rain and hail showers at the peak of the hatch likely washed out some nests and will tame numbers in the southeast part of the state, though there will be pockets of excellent habitat and birds. Results from North Dakota's annual August roadside survey notwithstanding, it looks like the southwest region of the state will retain its status as a perennial pheasant power, followed by the northwest region. The south-central and central regions will check in about the same as last year. Season Dates: October 9 through January 2, 2011 Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 12 Field Notes: Habitat and hunting access will be under the microscope in North Dakota the next couple years. In 2011 and 2012, approximately 50 percent of the state's CRP acreage is slated to expire. Many of the 1 million P.L.O.T.S. (Private Land Open to Sportsmen) acres in the state are also enrolled in CRP, so CRP losses have the potential to negatively impact the amount of places to hunt.
North Dakota?s two-day youth pheasant season is Oct. 2-3. Legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger may hunt roosters statewide.
Pheasant Numbers Rebound from Last Year - Sep. 13, 2010
North Dakota?s roadside pheasant survey conducted in late July and August revealed the pheasant population is in much better shape than last year, especially in the southern half of the state.
Pheasant Crowing Counts Completed - Jun. 28, 2010
North Dakota's spring pheasant crowing count survey revealed a 6 percent decrease statewide compared to last year, according to Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department.
Pheasants Forever 101 Now Offered at NDSU - May. 19, 2010
Students at North Dakota State University (NDSU) have formed the state's newest Pheasants Forever chapter. Known as the NDSU Pheasants Forever Chapter, the group joins Iowa State University as the only collegiate-based Pheasants Forever chapters in the nation.
Pheasants Forever Adds Conservation Program Experts in North Dakota - Nov. 23, 2009
Pheasants Forever is expanding its Farm Bill Biologist program in North Dakota with the addition of two new positions created in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and local Soil Conservation Districts. Matthew Olson of Fort Ransom, North Dakota, is the new Farm Bill Biologist based out of Forman and Jeff Potts of Watertown, South Dakota, is the new Farm Bill Biologist based out of Dickinson.
Youth Pheasant Weekend Oct. 3-4 - Sep. 21, 2009
North Dakota's two-day youth pheasant season is Oct. 3-4. Legally licensed residents and nonresidents ages 15 and younger may hunt roosters statewide.
Pheasant Numbers Lowest Since Early 2000s - Sep. 10, 2009
North Dakota's roadside pheasant survey conducted in late July and August revealed the lowest bird count in more than five years, and similar to 2002 when 500,000 roosters were harvested.
NoDak Pheasants Forever Gun Raffle Aims to Expand Farm Bill Biologist Program - Aug. 11, 2009
North Dakota Pheasants Forever announces tickets for its 2009 "21 Gun Salute" raffle are on sale now. Only 2,100 tickets are available, and all proceeds from the raffle will be used to expand Pheasants Forever's Farm Bill Biologist program in the state.
