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| At least the weather will cooperate with the season opener. |
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| Courtesy: Iowa DNR |
What were some of the biggest weather factors that will influence pheasant #s this year? Snowfall from Dec-Mar and Rainfall during Apr-May nesting.
How did they
impact the population?
Snowy winters kill
hens. Wet springs lead to poor nest success and
low chick survival.
What is the
estimated population of pheasant in Iowa? We don’t estimate the populations we use a
standardized roadside count survey as an index to popul numbers.
When was it at
its peak and what was the population estimate? We’ve used the same index since 1962 and
highest statewide average count was 67 birds per route in 1980. This year our
statewide index is 6.5 birds per route. www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey
What are some of
the biggest challenges Iowa faces in growing the pheasant
population? Climate change during winter and spring and
loss of CRP habitat.
We had a wet
spring with some locations experiencing record rainfall and even exceeding their
all-time river crests in eastern Iowa, how did this affect pheasant? Based on our roadside survey if we have more
than 8 inches of rainfall in Apr/May the population will decline. This spring
statewide Apr/May rainfall was 15+ inches. Population declined because of poor
nest success and chick survival.
About how many
hunters take to Iowa’s fields hunting pheasant? We predict we’ll have 40,000-50,000 hunters
this year. In 1997 we had over 200,000 pheasant hunters.
Any idea on how
much revenue that brings to Iowa? According to the 2011 national hunting and
fishing survey Iowa upland game bird hunters spent $26.4M in retail purchases
pursuing pheasant/quail. These expenditures generated an additional $39M of
multiplier effects (vendors restocking shelves etc). Pheasant/quail hunting
added $2.7M to the legislatures coffer thru state and local sales taxes on
purchases. http://www.nssf.org/PDF/research/HuntingInAmerica_EconomicForceForConservation.pdf
(tables at end of report).
Is the habitat
size/quality diminishing? Yes,
in the last 10 years Iowa has lost 1,200 square miles of pheasant habitat (hay,
small grains, CRP). To put this in perspective that is a patch of habitat over
4 miles wide that would stretch from Omaha to Davenport!
What are some of
the reasons? Corn ethanol is driving up crop prices
leading to less habitat for pheasants. The 3 year drought across the southern
plains is also driving up crop prices, more need for corn/soybeans to feed
livestock with lack of pasture and hay in plains states. The 2 together create
a strong incentive to farm every acre and plow up CRP.
What would be the
optimum weather conditions to get a good hatch and sustain a growing population
of birds in the state?
At least 3 consecutive years of
dry winters and springs would really give our populations a great boost.
Statewide we need springs (Apr/May) with less than 7 inches of rain and winters
with less than 25 inches of snowfall.
What about the
optimum habitat conditions? If Iowa has about 4M acres of pheasant
habitat (hay, small grains, CRP) we have the potential to harvest 1M roosters
given good weather. Currently Iowa has less than 2.8M acres of these
habitats.
I read in “Iowa’s Pheasant Season Opens Saturday” that the best cover is primarily on public land.
Yes our WMA’s do have very good
habitat – winter cover, nesting cover, and food plots. However, we also have
many CRP and WRP fields on private lands that are also managed well. Several
of these are enrolled in our new habitat access program.
In addition to
restoring habitat, what is the DNR doing to improve pheasant numbers?
Well habitat is really all we
can focus on because we can’t change weather. Last year we submitted a grant to
USDA for a new pheasant CRP practice. We were awarded 50,000 CRP acres for this
new practice web link is http://www.iowadnr.gov/habitat
(select link for “New Practice –
Iowa Pheasant Recovery). The DNR will also likely submit a request to the Iowa
legislature for funding this spring to implement a winter habitat program and
expand our habitat access program.
What can
outdoorsmen do to improve pheasant hunting in Iowa? Contact their congressmen and ask them to
support programs like CRP and WRP in the new Farmbill. Without these habitats
on private lands in Iowa it will be impossible to maintain an abundant pheasant
population. Ask our governor and legislature to support the DNR’s proposal to
provide more and better habitat/access. Spread the word about habitat programs
that pay landowners for habitat on their lands. Joint your local Pheasants
Forever chapter to support habitat locally.
What can
landowners/farmers do?
Consider keeping their marginal and less productive lands in
habitat/conservation rather than farming them. Support linking conservation
compliance to crop insurance in the new Farmbill.
What benefits can
growing suitable habitat for pheasant have for
Iowa landowners and
farmers? Most of the
conservation programs like CRP and WRP pay landowners a competitive rental
rate. These programs also address Iowa’s soil erosion and water quality issues
leading to hypoxia in the Gulf. They reduce flooding like we saw in Iowa City
in 2008 and they can reduce nitrates in our water supply – a big issue for the
Des Moines water treatment plant this spring. Pheasants produced from these
conservation projects are just icing on the cake. www.iowadnr.gov/crp
This is sort of
an opinion question, but what would you consider “good” pheasant hunting
weather… and what weather conditions make hunting pheasant the toughest?
The best hunting conditions are
no wind with cool temperatures and a dew or frost. Birds sit tight in these
conditions, dogs can scent the birds well, and hunters get better shots. Windy
and dry days are the worst because the birds flush wild and out of range (they
can’t hear well with the rustling vegetation) dogs can’t smell well with dry
vegetation, and hunters miss a lot of birds traveling at extra high speed in the
wind.
Can you think of
anything else you’d like to share about Iowa pheasant hunting -perhaps some
additional links for sportsmen?
- Link to our new online hunting atlas showing public lands
open to hunting statewide as well as our new hunter access program http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/PlacestoHuntShoot.aspx
- Link to basic information about pheasants, weather, hunting,
and habitat http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/PheasantSmallGame.aspx
- State crop reports shows about 65% of the corn crop was yet
to be harvested as of Oct 20th. Lower bird numbers and this much
standing corn will make the opener a bit tougher than last year when all the
crop was essentially harvested. I’d recommend hunters start around habitat
areas where the crop has been harvested if possible. http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/press/cropAndWeather.asp
Thank you for your time and responses!
Chris Conoan
ABC5 Meteorologist
Certified Broadcast Meteorologist #543
ABC5 Meteorologist
Certified Broadcast Meteorologist #543
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