A copy of the questions are out there if you look.
What makes you think SD is truly only science based or is it economically driven science based ?
SD is generally warmer (not much) than most of MN across the pheasant range. Especially true the further west in SD you go.
SD gets less snow in January and February (on average) than most of MN across the pheasant range.
If pheasant hunting roosters is truly compensatory and not additive, then why does SD limit the number of roosters per day to just 3 ? Is there actual data that shows a limit of 3 spreads out the harvest across the season better than a higher limit ... or is the limit 3 primarily because of public opinion ?
To that end ... why do some states run hunting sunrise to sunset, others have a morning or mid-day start and run to sunset, others still have a sunrise start but close the day at 4;30 PM (Iowa). Doubt any of this is science based. Most of it is dictated by public opinion and tradition.
The questionnaire seems to be about your feelings and your income levels, like that matters unless your motive is getting out of state visitors here.
I've seen nothing to suggest that the extended season has negatively effected the populations. In fact Pheasants forever agrees it does not harm the population.
"DOES CHANGING CLOSING DATES AFFECT THE POPULATION?
The argument has been made that closing hunting seasons earlier will prevent birds from being flushed from good winter cover into marginal areas where they are vulnerable to winter storms and predation. This may occur in some cases; however, because of diminishing returns to hunters as the season progresses, later season closures have a minimal effect on current or future pheasant populations. Simply put, fewer people hunt in late season and they only affect scattered pockets of cover.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
Liberal, legal, roosters-only seasons do not harm populations. If seasons work as designed, the outcome is a reduced standing population of male ring-necked pheasants. Extensive research has shown this has little or no effect on pheasant reproduction and subsequent populations."
Temp and snow keep hunters out of the field. Here and there. Hard to dispute that. And our snowiest month on average is December.
Bag limits are supposed to be set to supply enough resources for opportunities in the field to harvest game for everyone. Pheasant population combined with hunter participation numbers and success rates is how bag limits should be.
While fewer roosters are the best for the overall health of the population, we aren't talking about wiping them out either. The amount of roosters taken in January is a benefit to the hen population. It is compensatory to remove roosters as they out compete hens for food/cover and one hen is worth more than one rooster come nesting season. Science sets limits. Why did MN change the bag limit for the last month, there's fewer hunters in the field and wasn't going to negatively affect the population. The same rationale should be applied to January.
No idea why Iowa is 4:30 but that is pretty close to sunset for most of the season. Thus eliminating people having to know that it 4:36 here today and 4:45 tomorrow at a different location in the state. Actually seems like a good way to have everyone quit at the same time. SD late start was built around the farming culture of the pheasant range, so be it. I don't care if the start time changes. I don't care about hours in a day, I care about more days in the field.
I want biologists making scientific decisions for healthy wildlife populations while allowing the most access to the citizens of the state. I will not waiver from that.