Depending on geography, the peak of the pheasant hatch will arrive in the next two weeks. Like most pheasant hunters, I've got my fingers crossed and my best Uri Geller spoon-bending mind hoping for a strong spring hatch.
This year, things warmed up a lot quicker than normal. In fact, we started receiving reports of pheasant broods in Iowa at the end of April. Now that's an early hatch! Nevertheless, most biologists put the pinnacle of spring pheasant production at June 10th to 15th. Consequently, I've been watching the weather pretty closely as we near those dates circled on my calendar. The hope is for steady rains leading up to the hatch to green things up and produce a good crop of insects which the young chicks will eat upon leaving the egg. We're also hoping the temps don't get too cool, putting young chicks at risk of death from exposure upon hatch. The deadly double would be cool temps and rain right after the hatch.
I'll admit I'm paying more attention to this year's spring nesting weather than usual. We're coming off a tough winter on the birds coupled with three years of massive habitat losses, primarily related to the 7 million acres of expiring CRP contracts. Add those bummer facts to the return of the glory days just three seasons ago when we were setting 40 and 60-year harvest highs and it's easy to see where a guy could have gotten spoiled.
But to top off my high hopes is my bird dog's arrival into her prime hunting years. Many dog training experts point to the seasons between a dog's 3rd and 6th birthdays as their best autumns afield. Well, my German shorthaired pointer, Trammell, turned 3 this past April. This is the year it's all supposed to come together for canine and hunter.
My fingers are crossed and so are my toes. Here's hoping for a couple of weeks of mild weather across "Pheasant Country."
