Scary
Scary
I was looking at the Pheasant count in South Dakota and it is down from 4.19 to 1.52. Seems like a very drastic drop to me and it is even more concerning because the report from the DNR said in other words not to worry. Numbers don't lie hoping it is not a replay of what has happened here in Illinois when I was growing up enjoyed good bird numbers now I hunt the same places and see no pheasants at all. Just quail which is fine by me but It is scary to see the decrease in what is supposed to be the pheasant capitol. So does that mean there is no hope for the future of pheasant hunting?
Re: Scary
The loss of habitat due to less CRP is going to hurt, but it was mostly the weather. The birds are still plentiful in comparison to anywhere else, and should come back some.
It is why it is called hunting and not shooting.
It is why it is called hunting and not shooting.
- birddog1968
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3043
- Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:40 pm
- Location: Wherever I may roam
Re: Scary
Believe it or not pheasant are not well adapted to weather extremes on the prairies so you will see big swings from year to year.
.....and more steady smaller swings in true native prairie grouse.
.....and more steady smaller swings in true native prairie grouse.
Re: Scary
I figured I would see the the massive decline in wild pheasant hunting in my lifetime, I just didn't think it would come so soon.
The weather had an impact on the pheasants, but the declining habitat is also impacting the pheasants and will impact their ability to bounce back. Pricing are going to go way up because hunting land is at a premium in the Dakota's these days.
The weather had an impact on the pheasants, but the declining habitat is also impacting the pheasants and will impact their ability to bounce back. Pricing are going to go way up because hunting land is at a premium in the Dakota's these days.
- birddog1968
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3043
- Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:40 pm
- Location: Wherever I may roam
Re: Scary
I wouldn't call half a dozen states that each dwarf Scotland individually, loaded with wild pheasant, that see cyclic swings in population, a problem.polmaise wrote:We don't have that problem as all ours are reared.
But hey that's just me
Re: Scary
You really believe that, if you do, how about some facts to bavk it up. I mean it is nonsense to think some agency releases a million + pheasant6 each year.markj wrote:They wll stock them fields with pen raised you can bet on that.
There is no doubt there are a lot of birds released each year on the preserve, but you are nuts to suggest it is through out the state. Think about it.
Re: Scary
Neil, as I understand it they probably do release over a million. I think they raise a lot and I know they buy a lot from MN. We have people here in Wisconsin that raise that many.Neil wrote:You really believe that, if you do, how about some facts to bavk it up. I mean it is nonsense to think some agency releases a million + pheasant6 each year.markj wrote:They wll stock them fields with pen raised you can bet on that.
There is no doubt there are a lot of birds released each year on the preserve, but you are nuts to suggest it is through out the state. Think about it.
Ezzy
Re: Scary
Guys,
This is black helicopter stuff.
The SD Game and Fish denies it in writing, so you guys think they are lying, and not even a low level employee blows the whistle.
Now the put and take preserves release a lot of birds, but the state is not stocking the public and ranch lands.
Neil
This is black helicopter stuff.
The SD Game and Fish denies it in writing, so you guys think they are lying, and not even a low level employee blows the whistle.
Now the put and take preserves release a lot of birds, but the state is not stocking the public and ranch lands.
Neil
Re: Scary
The shooting preserves start shooting wild birds the first of Sept and are required to replace them. The hunting lodges that advertise all wild birds are releasing or they would be out of birds in a few weeks. Everybody has stories about state releases but I haven't seen any documentation to back the stories. Don't know about the reservations but I doubt it their pheasant population is generally quite low. More sharp tailsMs. Cage wrote:The state of S.D. has been releasing birds for many years, Indain reservations included. Think about it , SD's number one cash crop.
Easy to tell a released bird, In many years of hunting, I have never shot one in SD except near a shooting preserve.
Not even close to the number one cash crop. Do you think farmers pay $5,000+ an acre to raise pheasants. Plus, if you believe pheasants forever they would only last a few days.
Bird populations in general are dropping all over the west mostly due to cold wet springs,habitat loss and Summer drought. Pheasants rebound quickly and will recover with favorable weather. But we have been in the is weather pattern for quite some time. don't look for it to change soon
If SD was doing some under cover stuff to entice hunters why not just exaggerate the count nos. ..............Cj
Re: Scary
I shot two banded birds in one year out there in 2011. One was a $25 gift card to use within a certain city limits, one got me a $30 gift card to an appliance store.
They release those, they may release more...its tough to say if a city does it on their own behalf.
They release those, they may release more...its tough to say if a city does it on their own behalf.
Re: Scary
The state of South Dakota DOES NOT release any pheasants.
Private reserves release a lot and there are many farmers that do because they charge groups to come in and hunt their land.
Trust me, the state doesn't release any birds.
Private reserves release a lot and there are many farmers that do because they charge groups to come in and hunt their land.
Trust me, the state doesn't release any birds.
- birddog1968
- GDF Junkie
- Posts: 3043
- Joined: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:40 pm
- Location: Wherever I may roam
Re: Scary
State law says any lodge or shooting preserve must release up to what they shoot.....or 600 first year 1200 there after, all roosters. It states at no time may a hunting operations take exceed what they stock.
As far as state stocking......lol.....that'd be the best kept secret ever. If they did it'd be well known.
As far as state stocking......lol.....that'd be the best kept secret ever. If they did it'd be well known.
Re: Scary
Man, best just go and see for yourself. Farmers will release pen raised, why? To make folks that pay more than 100per day to hunt something to hunt. Think about it.You really believe that, if you do, how about some facts to bavk it up. I mean it is nonsense to think some agency releases a million + pheasant6 each year.
Public land will get no help, only pay to hunt shops. They been doing it this way for many years now.
I know one farm bought a million birds already. Heck places around here go thru thousands of birds each season starting sept 1 going to march 31. I been on quail hunts where they released 2 or 3 thousand birds, cost 100 per gun no limit I use a 410