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).
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