Pheasant harvest increases for second consecutive year

For The Journal

Published Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Reported harvests from last fall by Minnesota pheasant hunters were the highest since 1964, according to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The harvest of 588,000 pheasants marked an increase of 3,000 birds from the previous season and was well above the 10-year average of 401,000. DNR wildlife managers credit abundant habitat, excellent nesting conditions and hunters' continued support for programs to expand and enhance the state's grasslands.

"We're very pleased with the success that Minnesota's pheasant hunters enjoyed this past season," said Dave Schad, DNR Fish and Wildlife Division director. "Much of the credit goes to hunters and conservation organizations who have supported federal farm programs that benefit grassland habitat as well as support for federal and state habitat acquisition programs."

An estimated 129,500 pheasant hunters, the most since 2003, took to the field last fall, bagging an average of 4.9 birds each, according to the DNR report, based on a mail survey to 6,000 hunters who purchased a small game licenses in 2006-2007.

"Our estimated per-hunter harvest declined slightly from the 5.3 birds hunters bagged in 2005-2006," said Bill Penning, DNR farmland wildlife program leader. "That could be explained by the increase in hunters in the field, however."

One key to increased pheasant populations is abundant grassland habitat, Penning said. Within the state's pheasant range, protected grasslands account for about 6 percent of the landscape, the highest number since the mid 1990s. Farm programs make up the largest portion of protected grasslands in the state, roughly 1,000,000 acres in the pheasant range. About 610,000 acres of grassland habitat are protected in wildlife management areas and waterfowl production areas in the pheasant range.

Habitat and weather are the two factors that most affect pheasant populations, Kurt Haroldson, Minnesota DNR pheasant research biologist, noted. "There's nothing we can do about the weather, but there is a lot that can — and should — be done to improve habitat conditions. Thanks in large part to continuous support from hunters and organized conservation groups like Pheasants Forever, Minnesota's grassland habitat has been in pretty good shape in recent years, however we must remain vigilant, as the current Farm Bill is set to expire in 2007."

"If Minnesota is to avoid a drastic decline in pheasant and other farmland wildlife populations, hunters, landowners, wildlife watchers and conservations must make the case for farm programs," Penning said. "CRP, RIM and CREP have provided great benefits for those who enjoy upland bird hunting in the agricultural regions of the state."

The DNR has accelerated acquisition of wildlife management and public hunting areas and is working through the Farm Bill Assistance Program to expand the habitat base by marketing farm bill conservation programs to landowners, in partnership with Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), Pheasants Forever and county Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

In recent years there has also been increased emphasis on grassland-wetland complexes through the "Working Lands Initiative" with BWSR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and many other private conservation and agricultural organization partners.