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I am lucky enough to have been able to hunt in Pennsylvania when they had similar numbers, and quail to boot.
 
FLDBRED said:
I am lucky enough to have been able to hunt in Pennsylvania when they had similar numbers, and quail to boot.
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Here in Illinois too. My dad used to share stories of all the wild pheasants around here--pheasants like South Dakota he'd say.

We had a harvest pheasant harvest somewhere around million birds back then. PA was in the same boat. In 1995 we harvested around 500,000 or so. Since 1996 we've been around 100,000 and far below.

Nick
 
Shawk said:
I was thinking there was a year or two in the 90's when I was hunting a bunch and birds were everywhere in Iowa (no longer
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I almost hate to ask, but where do they stand in terms of harvest numbers today?

Nick
 
With no check / tag system like used for big game , these harvest numbers are an estimate based on numbers harvested by hunters surveyed. These numbers are then compared to licenses sold. The vast majority of the surveys are done in the first few weeks of the season. The data is very interesting. I do question its accuracy.
 
1pheas4 said:
I almost hate to ask, but where do they stand in terms of harvest numbers today?

Nick
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2012 and 2013 were supposed to be 128,000 and 138,000 respectively. I have heard talk they were looking for an increased to 200,000 or 250,000 this fall, but I haven't seen that confirmed. As was mentioned, this is an estimate. Personally I have seen how the numbers have crashed and haven't been back to Iowa in over 10 years. South Dakota should take a close look at Iowa to see what will happen to it's cash crop of out of state hunters if CRP fails and bird numbers falter. MN is looking better and better as our WMA and WPA land is owned and will never be put under the plow. SD is not that way.
 
1pheas4 said:
I almost hate to ask, but where do they stand in terms of harvest numbers today?

Nick
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Sorry Nick... I missed your post somehow until now but it looks like Hub has the numbers. I heard Iowa was hoping for 200,000 as well. I think that's a little optimistic but the DNR wants to post good numbers to lure in out of state hunters. My side of the state has gotten pretty tough but the guys on the western side are seeing more birds than the past few years apparently. Until our corn & bean prices come down I can't imagine any real comeback in numbers (and I certainly don't wish bad on our hard working farmers ever). Of course it's beyond prices... ditches, fence lines, everything is sprayed now for weeds/bugs ect, and on and on. Right now I can't imagine seeing a million birds shot again like we enjoyed in the 90's or even a half million. Hopefully I'm wrong though. ;) We will see... I have plans to bring a 2nd pup home this spring so I must be a little optimistic (ha!). :) Best wishes!
 
Kinda interesting to think about. Harvest numbers may not be a true indicator of pheasant population. I wish I could remember where I saw it -- but it showed a huge decline in number of hunters in the last 10 years. Gotta think that impacts harvest numbers....
 
If I remember correctly, Iowa led the nation in pheasant production from 1973-1976. I had the opportunity to join in, there were a LOT of pheasants. :)
 
Shawk said:
Hopefully I'm wrong though. ;)!
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I hope so too Shawk. I came close to hunting Iowa a number of years ago. Numbers were still good. Never pulled the trigger on the trip though. I regret it---but may make a trip anyway in the near future. I just want to see Iowa.

Nick
 
mnmthunting said:
If I remember correctly, Iowa led the nation in pheasant production from 1973-1976. I had the opportunity to join in, there were a LOT of pheasants. :)
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I remember those days! The two states used to try to lay claim of Pheasant Capital of the world.
 
For me:
CO - I can get to my hunting grounds with only a 3-hour drive; there are few hunters where I hunt; I have access to 14 sections of private land to hunt; if I could shoot reliably, I could limit every day.

IA - I learned to hunt there, decades ago

SD - all I hear are unsubstantiated rumors of large numbers of pheasant available, lots of land, although much of it is fee hunting. Until I set foot in the state and see/shoot lots of birds, I am going to believe you all are just telling stories of how good it is up there, to make more of us want to go up there. :D If the hunting was as good as it is rumored to be, you would be keeping the secret to yourself.
 
Kansas was close to 1 million birds in 2010 but the last season on record 2013-14 only had 230,000 which was the lowest recorded in 60 years.
 
I found these stats a MT F,W&Parks.
I think it's funny, the exact numbers. :)

Last 20 year average, 123,037 roosters harvested.
Most was in 2007 at 151,592.
 
mnmthunting said:
I found these stats a MT F,W&Parks.
I think it's funny, the exact numbers. :)

Last 20 year average, 123,037 roosters harvested.
Most was in 2007 at 151,592.
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And at least 50,000 of those are planters.:D (its a joke guys).

My tally for this season.

Ca, 3 wild roosters and one planter.

SD, 9 wild roosters.
 
quail hound said:
And at least 50,000 of those are planters.:D (its a joke guys).

My tally for this season.

Ca, 3 wild roosters and one planter.

SD, 9 wild roosters.
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Yep MT F,W&P plants pen raised pheasants. They want every Non Res hunter to get a rooster or two. :)

About the tally for roosters harvested annually in MT. I know for a fact they didn't ask me how many roosters I killed in MT, and I'm quite sure the didn't ask Cal?
SO, the estimates are OFF.
Would the correct estimates put MT in the top 5, I don't think so. :cheers:
 
I'm just coming in late, so I might be repeating something already said, but harvest numbers are not really an accurate comparison. Different states have different bag limits. In Kansas I can shoot four birds a day. In SD its only three. Right there SD is at a 25% disadvantage. Which makes their huge harvest numbers even more impressive.
 
SD
ND
MT
HI
IL

Yes, Hawai'i. On the Big Island it is full of pheasants, and not just Ringnecks but Green and Kalij Pheasants too. Also can shoot 3 types of Francolin's, Chukar, California, Gambles and Japanese Quail plus others.

I haven't had the chance to hunt there yet but I've spent some time and the number of birds and variety is unreal. Going back this Spring and want to do a little more looking, They only hunt on Sat and Sun and Holidays though.
 
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