Iowa Pheasant Numbers Hold Steady
Source: http://www.iowadnr.gov/
Published: Sep. 08, 2009
BOONE - The culmination of more than 200, 30-mile routes driven over the same gravel roads found that Iowa's pheasant population, on average, is about the same as in 2008. The DNR's Annual August Roadside Survey statewide pheasant average is 15.5 birds per 30 mile route.
"Based on this year's statewide index, Iowa pheasant hunters should harvest about 300,000 to 350,000 roosters this fall," said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "There will be local pockets of good hunting in each region except for possibly northeast Iowa where the winter and spring weather has really decimated the pheasant population."
The higher pheasant counts came from the northwest quarter of Iowa as well as central Iowa. The southern third and the east central part of Iowa had significant increases in pheasant numbers, but still averaged 10 birds or less per route.
Hunter surveys conducted in the spring show that most pheasant hunters do not spend many days in the field after the first two weeks of the season. For those hunters who do, there should be plenty of birds available
"There will be quality pheasant hunting this year where there is quality pheasant habitat. While the counts are below what we want and what our pheasant hunters want, as long as Iowa has well managed CRP habitat the populations will bounce back," Bogenschutz said.
The amount of that well managed CRP land has been on the decline. Over the last two years, CRP contracts covering more than 400 square miles have expired. According to the USDA, CRP contracts on another 170 square miles will expire on Sept. 30.
Over the next four months, the DNR will be meeting with legislators and other s with an interest in pheasant and quail to develop strategies to help recover Iowa's upland bird populations. The committee will present its findings to the Iowa Legislature next spring.
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