Game

DEER: Nov. 3 firearms opener

Outlook: Deer numbers remain at record levels in many areas, so another stellar hunting season is expected.

PHEASANT: Oct. 13-Jan. 1

Outlook: It doesn’t get much better than this. Pheasant numbers are near 25-year highs, and hunters are expected to bag another half-million birds this fall for the third consecutive year. That hasn’t been done since 1962-64. As usual, the best hunting should be in the southwest, but other areas should be good, too.

DUCKS: Sept. 29-Nov. 27

Outlook: Hard to call: Local duck numbers were down and the state was dry, meaning some tough hunting conditions. But late-summer rains have helped improve conditions. And the midcontinent duck population is up. The key, as always, is whether hunters are afield when migrant ducks pass through. New this season: a six-duck bag limit.

RUFFED GROUSE: Sept. 15-Jan. 1

Outlook: Finally, good news for grouse hunters: After years of decline, the grouse population is up 30 percent from last year and should continue to climb for several years, part of the birds’ boom-to-bust cycle. So grab your scattergun and get out in the woods.

OTHER

The regular Canada goose season opens Sept. 29, except for the west-central zone (the Lac qui Parle area), where it opens Oct. 18. The state’s Canada goose population is down 27 percent from last year. Rabbit and squirrel season is Sept. 15-Feb. 29.

Region

SOUTH DAKOTA

Pheasants (nonresidents): Oct. 20-Jan. 6

Outlook: In a word, wow. Pheasant numbers haven’t been this good since the 1950s and 1960s, the pheasant heydays.

Waterfowl: Sept. 29-Jan. 3 (most of state)

Outlook: Should be gangbusters, because habitat conditions have improved with the addition of rains. However, it’s too late to get one of the limited number of nonresident licenses.

NORTH DAKOTA

Pheasants: Oct. 13-Jan. 6

Outlook: A mild winter should result in another dandy season. Hunters could bag another 800,000 birds this fall. Nonresident hunters are restricted from some lands the first week of the season. See regs for details.

Waterfowl: (nonresidents) Sept. 29-Dec. 2

Outlook: Should be excellent. The annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of more than 3.2 million birds, down 13 percent from last year but still 51 percent above the long-term average. And water conditions have improved.

IOWA

Pheasants: Oct. 27-Jan. 10

Outlook: Despite some nasty weather events, Iowa’s ringneck population is basically unchanged from last year, and hunters are expected to harvest 700,000 to 800,000 roosters this fall.

WISCONSIN

Deer: Regular gun, Nov. 17-25

Outlook: Another good season is expected. Despite a half-million-deer harvest last year, officials say the statewide preseason white-tailed deer population — boosted by another mild winter — remains between 1.6 million to 1.8 million.

Doug Smith • dsmith@startribune.com