BOONE - Iowa pheasant hunters can expect to find more roosters in the field this fall versus last year. Overall, Iowa's pheasant population increased 19 percent over 2004 and hunters can potentially harvest more than 900,000 birds.
The estimates are based on the August Roadside Survey, which is conducted by Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife staff and conservation officers. The staff drives more than 200 30-mile routes on the same gravel roads each year during the first two weeks in August and record the number of pheasants, quail, partridge, cottontail and jack rabbits. Combining all routes statewide, DNR staff counted 36 birds per route, up from 30 birds per route last year. The 10-year average is 35 birds per route.
Areas with higher pheasant counts came from the northwest two-thirds of the state. The southeast third had similar counts to 2004. The southeast region faced a severe drought during the spring and summer, which is likely the cause for lower pheasant numbers. But there were some pockets of good pheasant numbers in east central and southwest Iowa.
The increase in the pheasant and other wildlife counts can be traced to the fairly mild 2004 - 05 winter, said Todd Bogenschutz, DNR upland wildlife biologist. "The lack of snow means we had good over-winter survival of our hens. The more hens combined with good weather during nesting is responsible for this year's increase in pheasant numbers," Bogenschutz said.
The survey found the same number of bobwhite quail as in 2004. The best quail hunting will again be in the southern two tiers of Iowa counties. Gray partridge numbers increased 41 percent, with the best areas in northwest and central Iowa, and good numbers in north central Iowa.
Iowa's cottontail population is lower than last year, but remain near the long-term averages. Hunters should find very good rabbit populations in south central and southwest Iowa.
This is the second season upland hunters are required to wear one external piece of blaze orange clothing, of which at least 50 percent of the surface is solid in blaze orange color, while hunting. Items that may be worn include a hat, cap, coat, vest, jacket, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt or coveralls. Upland is defined as pheasant, quail, cottontail, jackrabbit, ruffed grouse and woodcock. It does not include rails, snipe, crows or turkey.
The complete survey is available on the Iowa DNR's website www.iowadnr.com/wildlife.
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