Minnesota pheasant hunting should drop this fall – TwinCities.com

Minnesota pheasant hunters shouldn’t count on another banner season this fall.

The Department of Natural Resources reports the pheasant index dropped 24 percent this year, because of cold and wet spring weather that reduce chick survival. The decline comes after three consecutive years of high pheasant harvests, culminating last year in the highest pheasant kill since 1964.

“We’re down by 24 percent, but we’re right at our 10-year average for the pheasant population, so it should still be a good year,” said Kurt Haroldson, a DNR wildlife research biologist.

This year’s state’s pheasant index is 81 birds per 100 miles of survey route, compared to 106 birds per 100 miles last year. The index, based on roadside counts taken by trained spotters, exceeded 100 pheasants per 100 miles in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Last year, hunters killed 655,000 roosters.

Minnesota’s pheasant population, which lies on the north edge of the bird’s range, did not suffer many losses during last year’s mild winter, but cold and rainy weather in April, May and early June likely resulted in some nest destruction and loss of chicks to hypothermia. The peak of the hatch, around June 6-8, was poor weather for young pheasant survival, Haroldson said. Full Story

Minnesota pheasant hunting should drop this fall – TwinCities.com.