Brood Sited....Weather looks good

Update - Independence Day!!

Was at the farm last weekend doing noxious weed control and last minute habitat work. A telling sign was , even as many farmers were impacted by rains as far as planting goes I too had to go in and replant the low spots that got flooded out. I saw some more broods including one really large brood of 10 and they were strong flyers easily 4 weeks old or better.

The cover is thick and looks excellent.

Seeing a dead bird (car hit) on the road here and there which is usually an indicator of the amount of birds out there.

Happy 4th - Freedom Isn't Free!! :cheers:
 
the mitchell paper had an article about 2 weeks ago which basically was quoting a GFP official who said he expected bird #'s to be about the same this year as last...his name was Runia, I think....anyway, he blamed the wet spring/early summer...I know it was warmer than many of the wet springs we have had in the past 5-8 years, and also, the rains weren't deluges like we have had on many occasions before....I hope he is wrong!
 
Man if there is one thing I learned about quality of pheasant hunting in South Dakota it is to NOT listen to GFP or the Weatherman.

Pheasant numbers are impacted locally not statewide. Most hail events for example are more local than regional.

GFP data that hits the media is one leading factor to the decline of pheasant hunters and consequently pheasants (notice the order of those two?).

Also in the article is the fact that GFP is lookin for money and where does most of it come from? Out of state hunters. Hmmm.

Too bad non of the license sales monies can be directed back into the acres from which the sources of funds originated. Private lands. Laws against those investments. Stupid.
 
In a recent AGWEEK article I read where South Dakota weather was in the top 5 for warmest Junes and I suspect July will be right up there with the heat wave we are having this week.

Pheasant like hot and dry not cold and wet!:cheers:
 
Lots of pheasants seen while combining wheat over the last two weeks. Ranged from chicks that could fly very well too hens still on nests. Most broods looked to be 5-8 young ones. In the grouse areas saw plenty of grouse and chicken broods as well. Plenty of small grasshoppers to feed them. Central SD
 
Anything that will eat a grasshopper is going to fat and happy. :D:cheers:
 
SDJIM said:
Anything that will eat a grasshopper is going to fat and happy. :D:cheers:
Click to expand...

No doubt Jim! Was out this last weekend doing some last minute habitat maint. and there was no shortage of hot weather and grasshoppers. Close to 100 degrees each day. The cover and the hoppers were THICK.

I saw 5 hens standing near a water hole up by the geddes highway. Good news is there is good amount of water sources still but also there was some dewey mornings too.

Walked outside my door one evening and flushed a whole hen and her brood. I would say about 10 good flyers in that one.

Also had what I would guess to be a ratty old hen or a young rooster walk right in front of my open shop door.

Lots more cover this year so the birds are closer in to living quarters than ever.

Seeing broods of all sizes.

Saw a coyote pup and also lost a 5X5 whitetail to the Geddes highway too.

Got trail cams out this year for the first time so will be very interesting to see pics.
 
..."Walked outside my door one evening and flushed a whole hen and her brood. ..."

Would have been quite upsetting to flush a 1/2 of a hen! LOL!!:cheers:
 
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