2017 Pheasant SD Survey

Chocolabguy

Chocolabguy

New member
The SD GFP Pheasant Survey shows a 45% decrease in the number of birds from last year. Even so, my group will still be out for opening week and again in December. Tradition, family, friends and dogs are the main reasons. Even with half as many birds as last year, there will still be more than around my home base.

http://gfp.sd.gov/hunting/small-game/pheasants.aspx
 
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Yep, this is exactly what I witnessed last weekend. There are going to be some really disappointed hunters who are planning on seeing pheasant paradise in S.D this year.
 
bird count down 45% statewide...not one of the 12 (or so) surveyed areas saw an increase...however, 16 of the 110 (30 mile) routes surveyed did show increases!!! I know which ones, too!!!!

based on what we have been hearing about, especially in June and early July, I call this a "BLINDING FLASH OF THE OBVIOUS!". GFP did attribute the marked drop to the drought. I am still amazed that there was a debate about this...granted, it was kind of lopsided in nature, but it was a debate nonetheless. Broods down 44% statewide...roosters counted were about the same...hens down about 35%. Like it or not, it will keep lots of NR hunters away. That's OK. less birds and less hunters still means a lot of fun! quite honestly, hunting in MN around Marshall, for example, in a 60 mile radius, ain't the worst idea in the world...lots of public land...3 per day/9 in possession once December rolls around.
 
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benelli-banger said:
bird count down 45% statewide...not one of the 12 (or so) surveyed areas saw an increase...however, 16 of the 110 (30 mile) routes surveyed did show increases!!! I know which ones, too!!!!

based on what we have been hearing about, especially in June and early July, I call this a "BLINDING FLASH OF THE OBVIOUS!". GFP did attribute the marked drop to the drought. I am still amazed that there was a debate about this...granted, it was kind of lopsided in nature, but it was a debate nonetheless. Broods down 44% statewide...roosters counted were about the same...hens down about 35%. Like it or not, it will keep lots of NR hunters away. That's OK. less birds and less hunters still means a lot of fun! quite honestly, hunting in MN around Marshall, for example, in a 60 mile radius, ain't the worst idea in the world...lots of public land...3 per day/9 in possession once December rolls around.
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Our Farmer told our group that they were seeing "No broods" and advised us not to come as birds were that scarce. This is from a farm where 15 guys limited out 3 years ago by 2:00pm. All cover still the same on the farm. 100% related to the drought.
 
That's just Dismal; worst numbers I have seen in many, many years. The DNR, in every state, always sugar coats the numbers of, deer. turkey, grouse, fish, you pick ' em........

I predict there will be many, many groups who will cancel once the word gets out.
 
if you are traveling from afar, probably not worth it this year........a lot of guys will stay home and hunt some preserve birds and still save money and get their dogs into birds....no, it is not the same, but logic needs to prevail at times.
 
Dakotazeb said:
I'm not surprised by the numbers. Kind of what I expected. So is this "Factual Information" that the drought does indeed effect pheasant numbers?? :)
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maybe. then again, could the russians have infiltrated GFP ranks, and thrown the results, in an effort to increase the # of Americans that go on a river cruise in Russia? hmmmmm........
 
hunter94 said:
if you are traveling from afar, probably not worth it this year........a lot of guys will stay home and hunt some preserve birds and still save money and get their dogs into birds....no, it is not the same, but logic needs to prevail at times.
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If Warren Buffet were a pheasant hunter, he would spend the whole season in SD...befriending farmers who will not be bothered too much this season...good time to make friends, get to know some areas...things bounce back, and you will be remembered as the nice out of stater who came to SD anyway...and brought walleye, or smoked salmon, or wild rice, or a good pie...and whiskey!!!!
 
benelli-banger said:
maybe. then again, could the russians have infiltrated GFP ranks, and thrown the results, in an effort to increase the # of Americans that go on a river cruise in Russia? hmmmmm........
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Dang, forgot about the Russian factor!! :rolleyes:
 
I will be making the trip whether there are birds or not. I will spend my week hunting 3-4 hours in the morning have a cold meat sandwich leaned up against the truck tire roadside along with an hour or two snooze and spend the last 2hrs working off the cold meat sandwich I had earlier. No amount of doom and gloom will keep me from enjoying my time away from city life! Everyone needs to put a little perspective on why you hunt. Everyone claims "to get away from it all", but I question that from what I'm hearing. I will let you all know what I experience in November. If everyone doesn't go this year to SD I guess that will be less pressure. Keep your heads up there will be birds.

Last year we talked to a farmer that had just enrolled his land and he stopped to talk to us. He said he hasn't seen a single bird in several years on his property and said several groups of people were there hunting earlier that day with no luck. We listened but we were there to hunt, so we loaded up and set out because we heard birds cackling why we were talking to him! We flushed 15 birds in maybe 50 acre of good CRP. Take it how you will. I'm still counting down the days !
 
Dcast said:
I will be making the trip whether there are birds or not. I will spend my week hunting 3-4 hours in the morning have a cold meat sandwich leaned up against the truck tire roadside along with an hour or two snooze and spend the last 2hrs working off the cold meat sandwich I had earlier. No amount of doom and gloom will keep me from enjoying my time away from city life! Everyone needs to put a little perspective on why you hunt. Everyone claims "to get away from it all", but I question that from what I'm hearing. I will let you all know what I experience in November. If everyone doesn't go this year to SD I guess that will be less pressure. Keep your heads up there will be birds.

Last year we talked to a farmer that had just enrolled his land and he stopped to talk to us. He said he hasn't seen a single bird in several years on his property and said several groups of people were there hunting earlier that day with no luck. We listened but we were there to hunt, so we loaded up and set out because we heard birds cackling why we were talking to him! We flushed 15 birds in maybe 50 acre of good CRP. Take it how you will. I'm still counting down the days !
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I will make 4-6 trips...maybe 7...this years #'s are like 2013's...relatively low...but better than watching TV by a long shot!
 
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