The last major drought the state had was 2012. GFP survey posted 4.2 pheasants per mile statewide. Population was 7.6 million. Harvest 1.4 million. And birds harvested per person 8.9. All highest numbers in the most recent 5 years. [\QUOTE]
1. Comparing 2012 to the last 5 years isn't a good indicator of whether drought affects bird numbers, because as we all know, they've been pretty much in a decreasing trend for the past decade due to habitat problems (with kind of a plateau recently).
2. The brood count survey is no more than an indicator of what MIGHT be happening w/ pheasant numbers. It doesn't follow harvest data very closely. 4.2 was considerably lower than 8 of the 9 previous years.
3. Harvest of 1.4M lower than the 9 previous years.
4. 8.9 birds per hunter lower than 12 of the previous 13 years.
5. 7.6M birds only higher than 2 of the last 5 years and lower than 8 of the 9 previous years.
6. 2012 drought didn't start to become a big problem until about late August, after chicks were big enough to withstand some hardship.
7. Now look at 2013!!! Everything way down, even compared to 2014-2016.
6. 2013 affected by 2012 drought much more than the 2012 season was. Pheasants entered 2012 winter in pretty tough shape. 2013 nesting season too.
7. Pheasants/hunter harvest has been falling basically steadily since 2007 w/ 2013 seeing a sharp decline. That was following a pretty average winter & spring. So what happened??? 2012 drought.
https://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/images/pheasant-stats.pdf