Just returned from the northeast, north central area and I have to say the hunting was not near as bad as I thought it would be after reading all the negative posts. Our best day we found six covies and the worst two. Saw maybe 15 pheasant and bagged 2. Always looked at pheas as a bounus anyway since priority is quail. Public areas had food and decent cover. CRP of course not as high as in past years but in some areas it was more than sufficient and made locating birds maybe even easier. If conditions are right this spring and summer I believe this area will be just fine.