Top 5!

HollowWatcher

HollowWatcher

Member
In your opinion what are the current top 5 pheasant hunting states?

Here are mine.

1) South Dakota
2) North Dakota
3) Iowa
4) Minnesota
5) Kansas

I thought about putting Montana in but don't know to much about the state. I have Iowa 3rd because I believe this year was a really good year and that they are posed for some good things! One thru two is solid, but from 3rd on it gets tricky!
 
From a birds harvested point of view.

SD, Kansas, Nebraska, ND and MN.

I'm purely speculating of course.
 
Things sure change over the years. There was a time that Iowa was used in the same breath as South Dakota and Nebraska was there as well. Now it's South Dakota and a big drop to second for the rest.
I used to follow the bird harvest numbers closely, not so much anymore, but my guess is.

1 South Dakota

2 North Dakota

3 Kansas

4 Minnesota

5 Pennsylvania " just kidding"
 
1 SD
2 ND
3 KS
4 MT
5 MN

I question the harvest numbers posted by the state agencies. Especially those who rely on the out of state hunter license sales.
 
Agree. There are a number of different methods used to count, and then there's the interpretation. Not easy to compare.

My tummy tells me:
SD
ND
KS
?
?
 
Here is the deal to me..... By saying TOP state or states , you must factor in things other than the at best estimated harvest numbers. By this I think things such as public access , management by the individual state , opportunity , proximity , license (bang for your buck if you will) etc....
 
esetter said:
Here is the deal to me..... By saying TOP state or states , you must factor in things other than the at best estimated harvest numbers. By this I think things such as public access , management by the individual state , opportunity , proximity , license (bang for your buck if you will) etc....
Click to expand...

I know, I get it and agree! I was sorta asking a seperate question, if any state ever had bigger numbers than South Dakota!
 
Anybody ever seen a chart or chart with state data? I tried to figure out numbers for KS about a month ago and it wasn't real easy to find info.
 
parooster said:
I know, I get it and agree! I was sorta asking a seperate question, if any state ever had bigger numbers than South Dakota!
Click to expand...
Was not challenging you my friend , excellent topic! Iowa was pretty darn good 12 years ago. woulda made my list then for sure!
 
parooster said:
I know, I get it and agree! I was sorta asking a seperate question, if any state ever had bigger numbers than South Dakota!
Click to expand...

South Dakota has always been king, but there's been a number of states that had very high pheasant populations over the decades. Even here in Illinois. --I stand corrected. Looks like Iowa had it's place at the top of the charts for a number of years too. Let's hope such days will return to Iowa.

Nothing to do with U.S./state's---but if you could go back in time and cross over into Canada, Pelee Island had sky high pheasant numbers too. Some of the highest pheasant populations I've ever read/heard about. Today, habitat loss had made the island a put and take island.

Nick
 
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Not too long ago Iowa was the #2 pheasant producer with good public land access. Now they aren't even making anyone's list while MT and MN are.

Iowa seems to have gone a long way down the wrong road:(.

Nick
 
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1pheas4 said:
No too not ago Iowa was the #2 pheasant producer (after SD) with good public land access. Now they aren't even making anyone's list while MT and MN are.

Iowa seems to have gone a long way down the wrong road:(.

Nick
Click to expand...

So true about Iowa. When I was growing up and living in Northern Il, Iowa was the place to go. We looked forward to the trip every year. Million+ bird harvests in Iowa back then.

Sure do miss those days.
 
I am wondering if those who put Kansas in the top 5 have hunted Kansas in the last few years!?! We used to have a pretty big group hunting Kansas, this year we were down to 2....well 3 if you count my 10 year old son. It has gotten to the point where Kansans with land go to South Dakota!

Rut
 
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