Season Assessment

[westksbowhunter]

I'd think sub 400K would be the norm with the lack of habitat. The landscape doesn't resemble what it did in mid 2000s up there anymore. Pretty barren except for a field here and there and some corners and ditches. Unless that has changed in the last couple of years. Don't think I've hunted up there since about 2022.

You're right, a total lack of habitat. That's why we see birds really concentrated in areas with habitat. I have never seen farmers and ranchers bale as much hay as they do now. And a lot of it goes to Texas. Those out of state swathers monitor that drought monitor and come a calling when emergency hazing and grazing opens up.

 

[Bob Peters]

 

[matto]

Wheat stubble grown up with weeds was important habitat back when it was a thing. One of the better fields I've hunted in last few years was wheat abandoned due to drought that had grown up with weeds. This was in the 23-24 season. This link goes to a version of Randy Rodgers' research (cited in the image). https://ksoutdoors.gov/Services/Publications/Fish-and-Wildlife-Management/New-Life-for-Wheat-Fallow That research is over 20 years old now but is still an interesting read.

 

[ben ji]

Last year one of the fields next to the farmhouse was wheat that was cut with a stripper head, the tall stubble was loaded with birds all winter. It was hard to hunt since the birds could just sprint down the rows but provided excellent cover compared to low cut wheat or harvested corn/Milo fields.

It was a corn field this year but there are even more pheasants around which I attribute to the great cover last winter.