Kansas Wheat Crop
- Thread starter hunter94
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Bilbo Baggins
Active member
Unless something happens pretty soon, it looks to be a very tough year again for chasing the roosters in Kansas this season.
Unfortunately, it's far to late for rain to make a large difference in the wheat crop. As a general rule, the better the wheat the better the pheasant population in the fall. That is a crude statement that doesn't always hold true, but it's very rare to have a poor wheat crop and a good pheasant crop. This year's wheat is short and thin.
The "Kansas Wheat Tour" concluded about 10 days ago. The tour is designed to estimate what each region of the state will produce. In turn an average number of bushels per acre for the state is formulated. Statewide, Kansas averages about 40 bushels per acre. This year's estimate is 32 bushels per acre. It was the worst outlook since 1996.
I must say that I can't ever remember being so disappointed with the prospects of bird hunting this early in the year. Granted, it's not over, but it's going to take such a odd or unlikely series of weather events to make a statistically significantly increase the population this year that I don't believe we'll be moving forward. The loss of CRP and the mismanagement of CRP is a completely different subject.
The one bright spot that nobody knows, is what the effects of last year's late freeze/snow had on nesting. While chilly, this year didn't have snow in late April and early May. Hopefully that will be enough to keep us from moving backwards.
Sorry to be a Downer, I'm just really getting worried about the future of bird hunting in Kansas. In addition, it's sad to see all of our dogs that live for those few weeks a year when they get to do what they love best getting in to so few birds. Their lifespan is not what our is. It's just a shame to see these great animals sit and wait for the chance to shine only to find dry fields.
Point!
The "Kansas Wheat Tour" concluded about 10 days ago. The tour is designed to estimate what each region of the state will produce. In turn an average number of bushels per acre for the state is formulated. Statewide, Kansas averages about 40 bushels per acre. This year's estimate is 32 bushels per acre. It was the worst outlook since 1996.
I must say that I can't ever remember being so disappointed with the prospects of bird hunting this early in the year. Granted, it's not over, but it's going to take such a odd or unlikely series of weather events to make a statistically significantly increase the population this year that I don't believe we'll be moving forward. The loss of CRP and the mismanagement of CRP is a completely different subject.
The one bright spot that nobody knows, is what the effects of last year's late freeze/snow had on nesting. While chilly, this year didn't have snow in late April and early May. Hopefully that will be enough to keep us from moving backwards.
Sorry to be a Downer, I'm just really getting worried about the future of bird hunting in Kansas. In addition, it's sad to see all of our dogs that live for those few weeks a year when they get to do what they love best getting in to so few birds. Their lifespan is not what our is. It's just a shame to see these great animals sit and wait for the chance to shine only to find dry fields.
Point!
In Kansas, wheat=pheasants. With the weather seems like we're in for a haul. I hope eventually get the population back, I remember when Kansas was the sharptail and prairie chicken capital....the sharptails never came back, after the 1930's, I hope the pheasants do better.
Point!---yes your dogs only live so long so take them hunting where there are birds--travel if you must--just a thought
what he means is load them up and head for sodak! :thumbsup:
SDJIM
New member
mustistuff
Banned
wheat
just now returned from n. w. kansas along hwy 34. wheat to me for the most part looked really short for this time of year and had a hint of starting to turn, like it was about to head out. very few field had wheat a foot or so high. saw my usual bunch of quail buddies, about 5 roosters and one hen, just a few turkey
cheers
just now returned from n. w. kansas along hwy 34. wheat to me for the most part looked really short for this time of year and had a hint of starting to turn, like it was about to head out. very few field had wheat a foot or so high. saw my usual bunch of quail buddies, about 5 roosters and one hen, just a few turkey
cheers
BleuBijou
Active member
I think it would be wise for Kansas to have a plan to restock wild birds when the time is right. It will recover much faster and sure benefit those small towns sooner. States trade and barter wildlife all the time. I sure hope they are ready when the weather breaks and have a deal ready to go.
westksbowhunter
Well-known member
I really wonder if we will ever have decent pheasant hunting again. SEK was a strong hold in the Midwest for quail hunting up til the mid 80's and once they disappeared they never came back. Prairie chicken has virtually all but disappeared. It is sad to see such a heritage disappear. Habitat loss in this state is sickening.
You're exactly right. I've been doing that. Last year made trips to Nodak, SD, & NV (yes, Nevada). Unfortunately, those trips are time consuming, expensive and were only about 4 weeks out of the season. I really miss the days of getting in to birds on a regular basis.
Hope we can at least stay even with last year's population here in Kansas (jeez, who'd of ever thought somebody would say that?!!!)
Point!
mustistuff
Banned
i think wild pheasants are much harder to come by than say turkey, which are easily trapped, the numbers needed would be huge, it is one thing for the weather to change to a more positive note, but then, what are we going to do to change the farming practices which is at the moment the biggest problem of all, at least in colorado and kansas and rapidly becoming so in n. and s. dakota, all one has to do is look at iowa, birds need a place to live and can't do it on a barren landscape which is what you are seeing, more water on dirt ain't gonna do much. our current farm bill for the most part dropped the ball, a help surely but feeble
cheers
agree, stocking wild birds is a damn long shot!
BleuBijou
Active member
I guess they can wait then for it to try and comeback "Naturally" There sure seemed to be a bunch of birds before CRP took off in 1985 with the longer contracts. Just had to hunt a little different in large crop fields or draws. By the time this drought gets done, wheat prices will encourage the plowing of most CRP anyway. Maybe next go around they will use a mix of grasses and legumes that will benefit longer then 3 years. I have yet to see any CRP in Kansas that has legumes in it. So, if the Wheat = pheasants is true, then we need more moisture to grow more wheat. Lord knows I have not seen a nest in a CRP field since my last trip to S.D. ironically that CRP field had legumes. You have a better chance of transplanting wild birds then you do trying to change the minds of Farmers and Ranchers. Yes, it may be a small gamble. But the rewards out weigh the risks in my humble opinion.