Past decades of Habitat

[Waterfowler2001]

My dad and grandfather told me that todays habitat doesn't even compare to back to their hunting time which was the 1950's-1980's. They told me that back when they hunted there were fence rows with hundreds of roosters in and now there are barely any of fencerows left, also plum thickets were all over the place, and each one hold bout 20 pheasants or more and also they said the CRP Grass was up to your waist or some times to your chest, now they said everything is cropland now theres no more weedy fencerows, no more plum thickets, and the CRP grass is awful, also they said bird numbers will never be back to the "gold ole days" do you guys agree?

 

[duckn66]

I agree farming practices have changed/evolved over the years. I've seen A LOT of changes in the past couple of years around here. CRP going under to the plow and planted in beans or corn.

I think bird numbers can be brought back with proper education across the board. But, like SD and other states it's going to turn into a pay to play state unfortunately. I for one hate to see a buck made off of wildlife as far as the hunting of them goes. Times are changing.

 

[Elhew 123]

As far as pay to play---I remember reading an article 20+ years ago about the USA turning into Europe as far as access to hunting ground. Laughed @ the time now it may not be that far off. About the cover, I too have hunted places that today a person wouldn't even waste their time to try. I come from Iowa originally, and limited out in 30 yards on a fence line I was taking back to the truck. As I remember, My brother and uncle took a different route back--their loss. But times change, decade to decade and year to year----not alot of thought about birds and cover 2-3years ago, now a different story. I will say this-- I have access to about 5000 acres of Southern Iowa private ground---haven't been there in 10 years--same story from the farmer---didn't see any combining. That is what concerns me when I see the numbers in Kansas get this low---will they come back? 10 years ago in Iowa my family wasn't worried, now?????????

 

[duckn66]

Seems I've read and heard that Iowa had the best year this year in many for pheasant. Will it continue is the question.

 

[mustistuff]

iowa

think things did bounce back in parts of iowa but the figures are still off by about 80%. kinda like if you double 2, wow, what an increase. i remember during much of the 80 and 90's, cover was not hard to find, there were fence rows but i don't think i killed any more birds back then. i believe that in kansas during much of the at least 90's we had drought problems and a pretty serious decline in bird numbers also, cover we did have but much of it had few birds

cheers

 

[1fun37]

As far as pay to play---I remember reading an article 20+ years ago about the USA turning into Europe as far as access to hunting ground. Laughed @ the time now it may not be that far off. About the cover, I too have hunted places that today a person wouldn't even waste their time to try. I come from Iowa originally, and limited out in 30 yards on a fence line I was taking back to the truck. As I remember, My brother and uncle took a different route back--their loss. But times change, decade to decade and year to year----not alot of thought about birds and cover 2-3years ago, now a different story. I will say this-- I have access to about 5000 acres of Southern Iowa private ground---haven't been there in 10 years--same story from the farmer---didn't see any combining. That is what concerns me when I see the numbers in Kansas get this low---will they come back? 10 years ago in Iowa my family wasn't worried, now?????????

I also grew up in northern Iowa in the 50-60's on a farm and you are right about habitat. We never used roundup, our corn fields were weedy, fence rows and plum thickets, oat and hay fields were great nesting areas, no coyotes then, only foxes, lots of farmers depended on pheasants for food. Now my family farm raises only corn and soybeans, no weeds, tilled from edge to edge, plowed as soon as harvested, no cover for any remaining birds. I asked for them to put CRP strips at the end of the fields, the reply was NO way.
Southern Iowa bird numbers are increasing as land is being contour farmed more and the birds are now having food as well as cover. I expect southern Iowa may be as good as NW Iowa soon.:cheers: