Finally, a bit of good news for pheasant hunters: South Dakota's annual pheasant survey shows a 76 percent increase in the ringneck index.
The 2014 statewide pheasants-per-mile index of 2.68 is up from 1.52 in 2013. The index is similar to 2002 when hunters harvested 1.26 million roosters.
"With favorable weather conditions this past winter and spring, along with the availability of quality nesting habitat across the state, we are going to see an increase in this year's pheasant population," stated Jeff Vonk, Game Fish and Parks secretary.
"Survey results show pheasant numbers rebounded the strongest in central South Dakota; especially in the Pierre, Chamberlain, Mobridge and Winner areas. Results also indicate that pheasant numbers are substantially higher than 2013 throughout much of eastern South Dakota."
Here's more from a news release:
From late July through mid-August, GFP surveyed 109, 30 mile-routes across the state to estimate pheasant production and calculate the pheasants-per-mile index.
The survey is not a population estimate, but compares the number of pheasants observed on the routes and establishes trend information. Survey routes are grouped into 13 areas, based on a local city, and the index value of each local city area is then compared to index values of the previous year and the 10-year average.
"Habitat is at the forefront of the conversation right now and is a crucial factor in pheasant numbers," stated Vonk. "Bird numbers are higher this year due to excellent reproduction in parts of the state where quality habitat conditions still exist, primarily on grasslands including those enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program as well as fields of cereal crops such as winter wheat. We continue to work in cooperation with the Governor's Pheasant Habitat Workgroup, partner organizations and agencies, and landowners to provide an improved future for habitat in our state."
