This year, be where the birds are!!

The outlook for 2005 is very good indeed, in fact the GFP states that in the state's best pheasant range, south-central and central regions there are very good numbers, "the good old days are now", and that bird numbers are the best overall in 40 years again this year!

The  GFP reports that 2003 and 2004 were the best numbers in 40 years and 2005 is even better. We knew we were seeing exceptional numbers of birds and South Dakota's GFP's official count verified that the pheasant numbers in our part of the state were be the best in 40 years!

2004 Harvests per state:
1,500,000 South Dakota.
Iowa 750,000
Kansas 685,000
North Dakota 587,000
Nebraska 400,000

The GFP stated "On over 100 survey routes, GFP staff counted more than double (120 percent increase) the pheasants in 2003 than in 2002 and the report was that birds were up state-wide with their number counts showing as much as a 243% increase in places, and the numbers remained high in 2004 and again in 2005.  We've had an exceptionally mild winters,  cool springs and the right amount of rain at the right times, all of which help produce good pheasant numbers.

http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/DivisionWildlife/hunting/Pheasant/Outlook.htm