Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Top Public Hunting Areas For Pheasants In South Dakota According To AI

This is the advice one AI tool gave me.....

Some of the best public access areas include:

  1. Walk-In Areas (WIAs) in central South Dakota, particularly in:
  • Hughes County
  • Lyman County
  • Hand County These areas consistently have high pheasant populations and good habitat.
  1. Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) in the northeastern region:
  • Marshall County
  • Day County These offer excellent cover and are well-maintained for wildlife.
  1. Game Production Areas (GPAs):
  • The Fort Pierre National Grassland (Hughes/Stanley counties)
  • The Grand River National Grassland (Perkins County) Both offer vast tracts of public land with strong pheasant numbers.

Key tips:

  • Focus on areas with a mix of grassland, cattails, and agricultural fields
  • The James River Valley region generally has excellent pheasant habitat
  • Check the annual pheasant brood survey reports from SD Game, Fish & Parks for current population trends
  • Get a Public Hunting Atlas from SD GFP for detailed maps

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Top Public Pheasant Hunting Areas In Colorado

According to AI these are the Top Public Pheasant Hunting Areas In Colorado:

  1. Northeast Colorado:
  • Tamarack State Wildlife Area (Yuma County)
  • Bonny State Wildlife Area (Yuma County)
  • Jumping Mouse State Wildlife Area (Logan County) This region has a good mix of CRP lands, crop fields, and wetlands that attract pheasants.
  1. Southeast Colorado:
  • John Martin Reservoir State Wildlife Area (Bent County)
  • Two Buttes State Wildlife Area (Baca County)
  • Vilas State Wildlife Area (Baca County) The Arkansas River Valley in this area provides excellent pheasant habitat.
  1. North-Central Colorado:
  • Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area (Washington County)
  • North Sterling State Wildlife Area (Logan County) These areas along the South Platte River corridor are known for good pheasant populations.

Key tips for Colorado:

  • Focus on areas with a mix of grassy cover, crop fields, and riparian habitat along rivers/reservoirs
  • Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife's annual small game reports for the latest pheasant population data
  • More limited public land access compared to other Great Plains states
  • Consider getting an on-demand small game access permit for some private lands
  • Best hunting is typically mid-late season after crops are harvested



Monday, November 4, 2024

Best public access areas for pheasant hunting in Nebraska, according to AI

Here are the best public access areas for pheasant hunting in Nebraska:

  1. Southwest Nebraska
  • The McCook area, particularly:
    • Red Willow Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
    • Medicine Creek WMA
    • Swanson Reservoir WMA These areas have good CRP land and crop field edges.
  1. South Central Region
  • Rainwater Basin region, especially:
    • Sacramento-Wilcox WMA in Phelps County
    • Harvard WMA in Clay County
    • McMurtrey Marsh in Clay County These areas combine wetlands with upland habitat.
  1. Northeast Nebraska:
  • Knox County area:
    • Oak Valley WMA
    • Bohemia Prairie WMA
  • The Lewis & Clark Lake area

Key tips for Nebraska hunting:

  • Focus on edges between CRP grasslands and crop fields
  • Look for Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program lands, which are private lands opened to public hunting
  • Public access is more limited than South Dakota, so consider the Nebraska Public Access Atlas essential
  • Best hunting is often near water sources and thick cover
  • Later season can be better as crops are harvested

Remember that pheasant populations in Nebraska are generally lower than South Dakota, but these areas consistently produce birds.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Albert Lea MN Pheasant Hunt Nov 2 2024

Made a run to the Albert Lea area for an afternoon hunt.  We had hunted here on opening weekend and got one bird.  We started the day with 8 hen points and then Val bumped a rooster at 120 yds.... she was working a tailwind so I wasn't too upset.

Val was working some scent a ways off as I was trying to get Tasha to move in her direction... it ended up being a hen.  We started to work our way back to the truck and Val went on point.  This time the rooster held until I could get there to flush it and was able to take it in one shot.

As we got closer to the road the dogs were both working areas of scent and a nice big rooster got up and another single shot dropped him.

It was a good hunt.  A bit warm @ 55 degs but sun and a nice breeze.


 

Friday, November 1, 2024

Pheasant Hunting: South Dakota’s Best Public Lands | onX Hunt | Video

 

The excitement of pheasant season is back! Whether you're gearing up for your first hunt of the season or just looking for some pre-hunt inspiration, this 2023 adventure will get you in the zone. Join Lake Pickle, Ben Brettingen, and special guest Sam Soholt as they team up with their dogs to hunt a variety of properties and bring down roosters. 

In this video, we also introduce the PATH program (Public Access To Habitat), our collaboration with Pheasants Forever and the state of South Dakota. This initiative is opening up more public land, boosting local economies, and creating quality habitat for birds. 

Watch the trio in action as they navigate thick brush, encounter surprises like a buck, swap dogs (for some well deserved rest), and check out new hunting spots using onX Hunt maps. This 2023 pheasant adventure is full of great moments that will have you ready for your own hunt! Don’t miss out—hit play and follow along with us this season! #PheasantOpener #PheasantHunt #SouthDakotaHunting #onXHunt #PATHProgram #PheasantsForever #PublicLand #HuntingDogs 




Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Pheasant Hunt October 30th 2024 Hutchinson MN

After a few days back home from our previous hunting expedition, we decided it was time to switch our focus to pheasants. Our destination was a familiar hunting ground near Hutchinson, Minnesota - a spot that typically offers prime pheasant habitat, though last year's drought had significantly impacted its productivity. The property usually features several ponds, but the previous season's dry conditions had left them completely dried up.

Given my injured foot, I needed to modify our usual hunting strategy. Rather than running the dogs separately as I typically prefer, I opted to work both simultaneously to keep our hunt within a 90-minute window. We began our systematic sweep along the northern edge of the field, where the action started almost immediately. The dogs picked up multiple scents, resulting in four or five solid points on hens, and we witnessed one rooster burst into flight well out of range.

As we executed our planned route, we curved westward, traversing a notably quiet stretch where birds were scarce. However, the southern portion of the property proved more productive, with the dogs expertly pointing two more hens. The real excitement came as we worked our way along the eastern boundary, where both dogs caught wind of a rooster. The scene unfolded in the denser cover, with the birds working the scent thoroughly as the pheasant maneuvered along the field's edge. When the rooster finally flushed, I managed to get off a shot, connecting but not cleanly. Tasha, displaying her tracking instincts, pursued the bird diligently, and though she appeared close to recovery several times, the bird ultimately eluded us.

Moving into the interior section of the property, we encountered several more points, mostly revealing hens. Our persistence paid off when another point produced a rooster, and this time our aim was true, successfully adding one to the game bag. After completing our circuit, we returned to the truck for a brief rest. I made the tactical decision to kennel Tasha and continue with Val alone for the final stretch. The last half-hour proved quiet in terms of rooster activity, and we concluded our hunt just shy of the 90-minute mark.

Throughout the outing, both dogs maintained the high level of performance they'd shown all season, working efficiently and effectively despite the adjusted hunting strategy. While the drought's lingering effects were still evident in the landscape, the day provided a satisfying blend of action and success in the field.


Sunday, October 6, 2024

Scouting for Pheasant - onX Hunt Masterclass - Video

 

Join Pheasants Forever's Tom Carpenter and onX's Ben Brettingen to learn how to scout and hunt pheasants more effectively.

 

 

 

Thursday, September 5, 2024

MN 2024 Rooster Pheasant Count UP 1% Statewide

 











Species Reports
Ring-necked Pheasant
The 2024 range-wide total pheasant index (52.1 birds/100 mi) was similar to 2023 (51.2 birds/100 mi; Table 3, Figure 2A). 

Range-wide indices of hens and broods increased (32% and 10%, respectively) compared to 2023, whereas the rooster index remained similar (Table 3). The number of chicks per brood (4.2) and broods per 100 hens (76.9) declined from 2023 (Table 3). The total number of pheasants, hens, roosters, and broods per 100 miles all exceeded their 10-year averages, but the index of broods per 100 hens and chicks per brood declined by 21% and 12%, respectively, from the 10-year averages (98.8 and 4.7, respectively; Table 3). All range-wide indices in 2024 were below the long-term averages (Table 3). 

The index of chicks per brood in 2024 (5.0) is 12% less than the 10-year average (4.7) and 25% less than the long-term average (5.6; Table 3). This suggests that nesting and brood-rearing in 2024 was not as successful relative to last year (2023).


Despite the relatively stable index statewide, trends in the pheasant index varied among regions. The pheasant index increased the most from 2023 in the East Central region (70%), followed by the Central (34%), South Central (8%), and West Central (6%) regions (Table 4). Indices declined in the Southwest (-29%) and Southeast (-9%) regions (Table 4). 

Pheasant indices remain well below their long-term averages in all regions but are near or above their ten-year averages except for the East Central and Southeast regions (Table 4). The Southwest (81.8 birds/100 mi) and West Central (65.9 birds/100 mi) regions had the highest indices, followed by the South Central region (58.6 birds/100 mi). These regions should provide the best hunting opportunities in the state.

Read the full report

Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Iowa 2024 Pheasant Survey Show Count Down 14% From 2023

Iowa’s 2024 pheasant survey shows stable results compared to recent years, with 19 birds recorded per 30-mile route, slightly down from 23 in 2023.

Despite heavy rainfall during the nesting season, Iowa’s pheasant hunting outlook remains strong, with an expected harvest of 350,000 to 400,000 roosters.

Last year’s pheasant season saw the best numbers since 2007, and if dry conditions hold, a timely crop harvest could set the stage for another successful year.

RING-NECKED PHEASANT
Statewide: This year the statewide pheasant index of 19.3 birds/route represents a significant decrease over last year’s estimate of 22.6 birds/route (Table 3). However, even with this decline the statewide pheasant population index is at (-1%) the 10-year trend (Table 4, Figure 3). 

Iowa research indicates overwinter hen
survival, brood survival, and nest success are the major factors influencing annual changes in pheasant numbers.


Statewide, the total cocks and hens counted on routes were essentially unchanged from 2023, suggesting good overwinter survival (Table 3). However, statewide data on total chicks, chicks/brood (measure of chick survival) and age ratios (chicks per adult hen – measure of overall hen success) were all statistically lower than last year, suggesting from an overall statewide perspective that nest success and brood survival were much poorer in 2024 compared to 2023 (Table 3). Hens without broods was also significant higher (18%) compared to 2023 also supporting a poorer nesting season in 2024. These trends match up well with the weather Iowa experienced over the past year. Only counts in the SW region were statistically lower than 2023, while all other regions reported numbers comparable to 2023 with counts showing upward or downward trends, but none statistically significant - meaning there was no consistent trend in the counts within these regions; some routes increased while others decreased. Counts in the EC and SE regions showed small increases, while counts in other regions showed slight downward trends. The downward trend in 7 of the 9 survey regions contributed to the overall significant statewide decline, even though most regions did not report statistically significant changes in counts.


Overall, pheasant hunters in the Hawkeye state should expect pheasant numbers to be slightly lower than in 2023 in most regions. The NW, NC, NE, WC, and C regions show the best overall densities, however hunters in the EC and SE regions might see a few more birds compared to a year ago. Five (NW, NC, NE, WC, C) of the 9 survey regions reported pheasant averages of 20+ birds per route (Table3/Figure5) and should offer good to excellent hunting. Pheasant hunting last fall in the Hawkeye state was the best seen since 2007 with over half a million (591,000) roosters harvested. Given this year’s statewide index of just under 20 birds per route, Iowa pheasant hunters should harvest approximately 350,000 to 400,000 roosters this fall (Figure 3). 

Hawkeye pheasant hunters could have another very good fall! As of early September, Iowa was still experiencing dry conditions across most of the state. If this pattern continues into October, Iowa could see an early crop harvest, with most fields harvested and plowed by the pheasant opener. Hunter success is usually very good on openers where most crops have been harvested.
 

Northern Regions: Counts in all northern regions exhibited downward trends compared to last year, but none of the declines were statistically significant – meaning generally counts decreased, but some routes increased
(Table 3, Figure 5).

Counts in all three regions are above their 10-year averages, especially the NE region. The NW region averaged 33 birds per route which was the highest density of any region in 2024, while the NE and NC regions averaged 25 and 24 birds/route respectively (Table 3). All 3 regions should offer good to excellent pheasant hunting, particularly around public and private lands with good winter habitat. Better counts in NW came from, Clay, Emmet, and Osceola counties. Butler, Floyd, Hancock, and Humboldt counties reported better numbers in the NC region, while the NE region reported the best counts in Bremer, Chickasaw, and Howard counties (Figure 6).


Central Regions: The WC region reported the second highest counts in the state with 26 birds per route in 2024, with the C region reporting 22 birds/route (Figure 5). Counts in the EC region were statistically unchanged from 2023, but showed an upward trend (Table 3). The EC region was one of the few regions that reported more hens with broods (50%) and chicks (18%) than in 2023, which led to upward trend in counts. All 3 regions should offer good to excellent hunting this fall where good quality pheasant habitat exists (Figure 6). 

The WC region reported better counts in Ida, Calhoun, Greene, and Sac counties. The Central region reported good bird numbers in Boone, Grundy, Marshall, and Webster counties, while the EC region reported better numbers in Johnson, Jones, and Muscatine counties (Figure 6).
Southern Regions: Counts in this region were highly variable with counts in the SE region showing a small upward trend, while counts in the SW region declined significantly compared to 2023 (Table 3 & Figure 5).


Counts in all three regions remain below their 10-year means (Table 4). Hunters should expect bird numbers similar (SE region) or lower (SC and SW regions) compared to 2023. Some of the better counts in 2024 came
from Henry, Louisa, Union, and Washington counties (Figure 6). 


 


















See all the table and the full article