Birds up….

I am a little suspicious that partridge counts are at 1992 levels. We will see. In 1990-1992 they were everywhere we walked.
 
They have been at the top of population peaks for the last several years where we hunt. But things can change fast for the little birds. It is the fourth peak we have seen hunting huns since 1986. Can't find them during the lows. Enjoy the bounty.
 
I just reviewed the 12 page detail my buddy got from GFP, and there’s a discrepancy in the data; the detailed report confirms that the NW is up 79% for pheasants, where as the summary report for all to
see shows the ‘22 pheasant count at 96 birds per 100 miles, and this year was 2023 was 113…that’s only about 20%…but the detailed report shows ‘22 at about 63 birds per 100 miles…a 79% increase. Bottom line, #’s are up a lot based on
these data sets.
 
benelli-banger said:
Look at the ND GFP “news” in the next few days…it’ll show. You can dispute their #’s, that’s fine, but these are what they’ll be publishing.
Click to expand...
I'll happily eat crow here...hard to believe those increases but happy to see them. I do think our coolish late July/early August with lots of dew had to have a big impact on the counts.
 
Hope these numbers are correct. This will be my 18th season hunting ND. The worst year I have seen was 2018 or 2019. Without a doubt 2007 - 2010 were the best. With all of the CRP loss , drought , harsh winters etc.... Its amazing to me that Pheasants are still stable or even improving some. Though it cost me some great spots , I can't help but to think that some of the e posting of private lands has protected some breeding stock and helped populations as a whole. It seems like most private lands near public lands are now eposted. Obviously this dosent mean that there's zero bird hunting on these parcels but maybe it has created some little refuges that the benefits outweigh the negatives?
Thoughts?
 
Pheasants move about more than many believe. Especially if pressured (both public and private), harvest, or weather conditions drive them to change.

You never know when you step onto public land ...
 
benelli-banger said:
Good hatches need good weather and habitat…I don’t think the E posting has had any influence…hunting doesn’t negatively influence #’s…one rooster can service 20+ hens…
Click to expand...
Good point , and agree. I do think that hunting can cause other mortality other than the shot killing a bird. I know here in the south , flushing a covey of quail late evening before a cold night can really hurt a covey. Id have to think that hammering sloughs in the winter there in the late evenings could have the same effects ,especially in winter. Thanks for the response.
 
No way no how are partridge up in the NC part of ND. I hunted and drove a lot (scouting for waterfowl) in two historically high partridge count counties. Saw one flock.

In 2001 and 2002 we would have seen a dozen coveys or more. One day we counted 20+ coveys. In those same years we would shoot as many partridge per day as pheasants.

If partridge are up 200% statewide they must be up 2000% is a few select counties.
 
I’m in south central North Dakota right now. In the past two afternoons since arriving, I’ve hunted one decent looking PLOTS section and two decent looking WPA’s and haven’t seen a single pheasant,
hen or rooster, running 4 year old and 6 years old French Brittany’s. Haven’t seen a pheasant in a ditch or on the side of the road. Crops are largely out or have been coming out like crazy. I don’t know where they are. Seen a small handful of sharptails and today saw one decent covey of Huns jump off a gravel road and fly into a private field. I’ve wasted too much time driving to Trust lands only to find them basically barren ground that wouldn’t hide a grasshopper. From now on, I won’t drive one click out of the way to check another Trust section. Every single one I’ve checked so far has just sucked to the point I wouldn’t even put my foot on the brakes to look further. I will try a few more PLOTS and WPA’s over the next couple days, but this sure isn’t what I was expecting after hearing the reports. I envy the guys that have access to private ground loaded with pheasants.
 
Thinblueline said:
I’m in south central North Dakota right now. In the past two afternoons since arriving, I’ve hunted one decent looking PLOTS section and two decent looking WPA’s and haven’t seen a single pheasant,
hen or rooster, running 4 year old and 6 years old French Brittany’s. Haven’t seen a pheasant in a ditch or on the side of the road. Crops are largely out or have been coming out like crazy. I don’t know where they are. Seen a small handful of sharptails and today saw one decent covey of Huns jump off a gravel road and fly into a private field. I’ve wasted too much time driving to Trust lands only to find them basically barren ground that wouldn’t hide a grasshopper. From now on, I won’t drive one click out of the way to check another Trust section. Every single one I’ve checked so far has just sucked to the point I wouldn’t even put my foot on the brakes to look further. I will try a few more PLOTS and WPA’s over the next couple days, but this sure isn’t what I was expecting after hearing the reports. I envy the guys that have access to private ground loaded with pheasants.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure exactly where you are, but I hunt SE ND and the numbers are hurting. I think the late winter/early spring snow that the S/SE part of the state got really hurt the birds. I saw sloughs that were completely filled in that I have never seen filled. For the first time in a very long time, we didn't get our 9 birds on opening day on private land. It usually takes us about 45 minutes, tops.
 
BRITTMAN said:
No way no how are partridge up in the NC part of ND. I hunted and drove a lot (scouting for waterfowl) in two historically high partridge count counties. Saw one flock.

In 2001 and 2002 we would have seen a dozen coveys or more. One day we counted 20+ coveys. In those same years we would shoot as many partridge per day as pheasants.

If partridge are up 200% statewide they must be up 2000% is a few select counties.
Click to expand...

% increases pretty meaningless if the floor is too low.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top