The winter of '10-'11 was devastating for pheasants; long, cold and lots of snow. It was followed by an exceedingly wet spring which was devastating for pheasant nesting success. Consequently the pheasant population was down significantly in SDak.
The winter of '11-'12 had almost no snow and nesting conditions this year have been grand. In conversation with a local farmer, DM, this week he reported seeing two hens that together had 54 chicks! He had also seen a brood that were old enough that they were able to fly. Those were exceptionally large broods and those fliers were a very early hatch.
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