Iowa’s Pheasant Season Outlook
By Joe Wilkinson

Iowa's favorite game bird takes center stage this weekend, as 130,000 or more pheasant hunters step into the field.

Hunters should bag 700,000 to 750,000 ringnecks this season. Areas with good habitat will still hold good bird numbers, but overall pheasant numbers are down from last year and long term averages. Iowa's pheasant forecast hinges largely on August roadside counts, which showed a 22 percent downturn in 2006.

"We saw fewer birds overall, but noticed that the hen numbers were down significantly. That is usually an indication we had some winter losses," notes Todd Bogenschutz, upland game biologist for the Department of Natural Resources. Historically, Iowa hunters bagged one million pheasants or more in a season. They have fallen short of that mark in five of the last six years.

Overall, Iowa had normal winter and spring weather, which usually indicates good bird survival and nesting success. Bogenschutz, though, points to 10 to 20 inches of snow and cold weather across much of the state in early December, as the likely culprit.

Statewide, those 215 August counts yielded 27.9 pheasants per 30-mile route; down from 35.8 in 2005. Each of the nine regions showed drops, too; ranging from 50 birds in northwest Iowa (down from 63.5) to 9.7 in south central Iowa (down from 11.1) The better counts were in central (38.5), north central (37.0) and northwest Iowa. In most years, those August results reflect what hunters see during the season. Still, a slim possibility suggests the count was inconsistent, that broods hatched early and were breaking up by August.

"In 1993, the survey said pheasant numbers were down significantly. Yet hunters reported an excellent harvest," recalls Bogenschutz. "Then, in 1994, the survey said pheasant counts were significantly higher, but hunter harvest was mostly unchanged." Bogenschutz concedes the answer will come as hunters go through the season.

For most, though, pheasant season means more than just how many birds you see...or shoot. The outdoor tradition keeps friends and family coming back year after year. "I have had just as many calls from hunters as in other years. No one is saying they aren't coming," reports DNR district wildlife biologist Bryan Hellyer, in northwest Iowa. "We still have good numbers of birds, with plenty of excellent habitat. There will be lots of people out. We are blessed [in the local area] with a lot of public land. It's not unusual to see one group leaving it, as another group arrives to hunt it."

Most Iowa land is in private hands, but hunters have found over the years that they can get on to hunt, if they have patience. "You always hear that Iowa landowners are so friendly," says Bogenschutz. "Maybe the first week, it's tough to find access but after that, landowners are pretty good about letting hunters on. I think that's the biggest attraction to Iowa, historically." With a 75-day season, Iowa hunters get plenty of opportunities to chase the multi-colored game bird.

In the early part of the season, though, where you hunt often depends on the local harvest. Standing crops in many years provide hundreds more acres of cover for pheasants. This year, though, virtually all soybeans have been combined and about 50 percent of the corn is harvested. "Hunters should focus activity around Conservation Reserve Program acres or public land," suggests Bogenschutz. "Anywhere there is undisturbed grass next to crop land would be a good bet."

While weather is the most visible short-term factor affecting wildlife, habitat is the long term variable. Those Conservation Reserve (CRP) acres have been a major boost to wildlife and outdoor recreation, as well as soil and water conservation. However, those days are numbered for many fields. "The 2007 Farm Bill is up (for consideration by Congress) and CRP is part of it," notes Bogenschutz, who follows farming trends and potential regulation changes. Since 1990, he has charted a 30 percent drop in potential wildlife habitat (hay, oats, CRP acres) statewide. "We are going to see loss of maybe 100 to 200 square miles of it, back into row crops. The future of pheasants in Iowa is going to play big in the next Farm Bill."

Bogenschutz sees heavy pressure to increase ethanol production in the future. He notes, though, switchgrass and other non-row crop biomass could become a more conservation-friendly key to future ethanol production.

Region by Region Pheasant Outlook
(Pheasants seen per 30 mile route in 2006, and change from 2005)

Statewide, 27.9, down 22.2%
Northwest; 50.0, down 21.2%
North central, 37.0, down 13.7%
Northeast, 18.4, down 27.3%
West central, 23.9, down 24.5%
Central, 38.5, down 23.3%
East central, 22.2, down 26.2%
Southwest, 20.3, down 29.9%
South central, 9.7, down 12.7%
Southeast, 20.0, down 15.5%