SD Brood Count Survey Guesswork. Hmm?
- Thread starter UGUIDE
- Start date
Well said!
SDJIM
New member
Ya know if you live here you really get a clouded view of just how many birds there really are, but that's a nice thing---lucky lucky me
The last two years really showed how ma nature can be, to wet and to dry, so here on the main part of the farm there wasn't much breeding stock around so it will be interesting to see how much of a come back happens, but just 7 miles away is our other 320 acre place and it had lots of breeding stock so I have high hopes for that spot.:thumbsup:
I still think the numbers will be up and up a lot in some areas but I'm not sure the survey numbers will show that. lots of cover and even road ditches that were hayed are growing back to the point where they are providing some cover again.
So watch the numbers from the survey and come enjoy the hunt--I think it will be an improvement on last year
UGUIDE
Active member
It is interesting to read all these posts and concept is that counts were inflated last year due to less cover in the road ditches. I know the ditches have a lot more cover than last year but I am not sold that this will deflate the counts.
Game changer is heavy dew these mornings vs. no dew last year.
I was out at farm on M-W this last week and the humidity hit 100% one morning and the beans were sagging like they had just been hit with 24D there was so much moisture on them.
Seeing more birds on roads now but still no good indicator to what I see when I get off roads and am clipping or whatever. I still cannot tell what I have for birds and I am out there on just about every acre at some time or another.
Local comments that they have been seeing very small chicks as of late. Late nesting hens and some re-nests I expect.
Survey should be out soon. Gets your guesses in......
Game changer is heavy dew these mornings vs. no dew last year.
I was out at farm on M-W this last week and the humidity hit 100% one morning and the beans were sagging like they had just been hit with 24D there was so much moisture on them.
Seeing more birds on roads now but still no good indicator to what I see when I get off roads and am clipping or whatever. I still cannot tell what I have for birds and I am out there on just about every acre at some time or another.
Local comments that they have been seeing very small chicks as of late. Late nesting hens and some re-nests I expect.
Survey should be out soon. Gets your guesses in......
small munsterlander owner
Banned
about the same or low increase in western SD say 5%-7% & in all other parts of the state about a 10%-17% increase ... will probably be higher then that & in the field will be much higher then what the state says due to all the late late hatches im hearing about id guess...
UGUIDE
Active member
Didn't know the Rez gave out numbers. Tell us more. For all res's?
small munsterlander owner
Banned
man thats a tuff tuff one on who to trust??? who wants to sell more license the state or the rez??? i will read both & make a educated guess on whats going on in SD pheasant land...
please post wear we can get the REZ brood count id love to check it out... honestly
please post wear we can get the REZ brood count id love to check it out... honestly
OKIEGunner
New member
There will be Pockets of good bird numbers
carptom1
Well-known member
There will be Pockets of good bird numbers
No kidding. I think the politicians spin doctors moonlight writing upland bird forecasts
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
My neighbor's son works for the GFP. I talked to him last week and he had been out in Faulk County doing a road count one morning. He didn't say whether it was up or down but did say it was a bad morning for doing it because of the heavy dew. So I wonder how that effects the count? I think the increase was overstated last year. GFP has incentive to do that do keep hunters coming to the state. Not saying they do, but............
small munsterlander owner
Banned
ok im confused now??? from what i got out of u guides post about no opinions only % guesses was that the game & fish counts the broods at the time of the year they do is because of the dew on the grasses brings the chicks to the road wear there is no dew correct???
now i see its a bad time to count broods because of the heavy dew???
im not talking stuff im just trying to figure out witch is true??? i thought the broods would be on the roads more during dewey mornings also???
yes i agree 100% dakotazeb they maybe inflate the #s a tad to keep non resident hunters optimistic & flocking to SD each season they have to with the hunt "place specific town here" adds they run on T.V. hunting shows come hunt ringneck nation!!! is all you here... lol
thats why id like to read the REZ brood count survey to compare the 2
now i see its a bad time to count broods because of the heavy dew???
im not talking stuff im just trying to figure out witch is true??? i thought the broods would be on the roads more during dewey mornings also???
yes i agree 100% dakotazeb they maybe inflate the #s a tad to keep non resident hunters optimistic & flocking to SD each season they have to with the hunt "place specific town here" adds they run on T.V. hunting shows come hunt ringneck nation!!! is all you here... lol
thats why id like to read the REZ brood count survey to compare the 2
UGUIDE
Active member
Me too. This is contrary to timing for these counts and also what was a reason for lower numbers last year. ?????
I do not believe GFP inflates there counts to get more NR business. I believe Dept of Tourism puts significant pressure on the GFP to word their outcomes to be more "tourism" friendly.
They will not be hiring Safari to to there brood count reports :10sign:
SDJIM
New member
OK here is the brood survey rules if you will as stated in the GF&P's book " Ring-Necked Pheasants thriving in South Dakota"
1.Brood survey has been conducted annually since 1949 and is used to predict hunter success for specific geographic areas. Other factors, such as status of the agricultural harvest, historical hunting success and historical hunting pressure are also considered in making harvest predictions.
2. Survey indices are derived from 110, 30 mile pheasant brood routes across 57 counties. They are surveyed from Jul 23 thru Aug 15.
3. Standardized methods on mornings when weather and dew conditions are optimal for viewing pheasants are used. These are vegetation must be thoroughly saturated from moderately heavy dew or rain overnight, sunshine with little cloud cover and wind at less than 8 MPH. Conditions outside these are considered "secondary runs".
4. Surveys begin at sunrise and continue for about 2 hrs traveling on gravel roads at 15 to 20 MPH and include all pheasants seen with in 1/8 mile of either side of the road.
That is how it's done.
For those with the book (Chris) see page 172.
1.Brood survey has been conducted annually since 1949 and is used to predict hunter success for specific geographic areas. Other factors, such as status of the agricultural harvest, historical hunting success and historical hunting pressure are also considered in making harvest predictions.
2. Survey indices are derived from 110, 30 mile pheasant brood routes across 57 counties. They are surveyed from Jul 23 thru Aug 15.
3. Standardized methods on mornings when weather and dew conditions are optimal for viewing pheasants are used. These are vegetation must be thoroughly saturated from moderately heavy dew or rain overnight, sunshine with little cloud cover and wind at less than 8 MPH. Conditions outside these are considered "secondary runs".
4. Surveys begin at sunrise and continue for about 2 hrs traveling on gravel roads at 15 to 20 MPH and include all pheasants seen with in 1/8 mile of either side of the road.
That is how it's done.
For those with the book (Chris) see page 172.
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SDJIM
New member
Checking the book published by the SDG&P "Ring-Necked Pheasants thriving in South Dakota" the optimal conditions are wet grass due to rain or dew, sunshine and less than 8 MPH winds. The reason being "The combination of sun and dew entices pheasants to seek open sunny areas to escape the wet grass, thus making them easier to count. Light winds (0 to 8 mph) keep the dew saturated grass from drying out while the routes are being surveyed".
That should clear up any confusion --- seems the person saying they didn't go out that morning because it was to wet was WRONG