benelli-banger
Well-known member
After reviewing the available historical record from 1949 to now re: birds per mile, it is interesting to note that 31 of the past 69 years (45%) the count has been under 3 birds per mile. The first time I hunted SD was 1993, and the count was about 2.5....statewide, mind you. What I witnessed would have been hard to exceed during the peak in 1945, frankly! It simply demonstrates to me that there is alot of variation from locale to locale, that this bird can populate pretty rapidly when conditions allow. Knowing how much habitat has been lost over the past 20 years, yet having 2.5 ppm, tells me where you have decent habitat you could have robust bird densities. Every survey route is 30 miles long; I know how much crp there used to be in my area vs today...we drive LONG stretches without seeing birds...so, those routes are no different...these #'s are pretty darned good when you factor in the reality of what they are telling us. I enjoy the computer "hunting" as much as anybody, but if anybody is worried about #'s because the statewide # is only 2.5, I think that is a mistake. I am pretty sure the drought areas from 2017 are gonna take some time to rebound, as the survey demonstrates...good reproduction requires 2nd year birds, as their overall lifespan is about 3...not many chicks survived in those areas. UGUIDE'S camp data is very insightful re: different locales...his camp around lake andes did pretty good, and his timber lake camp did ok, and his meadow creek camp did well....the others really struggled, and they are in the bullseye of the drought...for the # to be 2.5 ppm statewide is pretty darned impressive taking all this into account. Make a square : 212 on the north, 81 on the east, 18 on the south, 83 on the west....probably an ok quadrant to explore, but there are some areas out of this area that i know for a fact are good....anywhere you find crep you find cover that should be relatively fertile....
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