2014 PHEASANT OUTLOOK
2014 PHEASANT BROOD SURVEY RESULTS BY AREA
Pheasants Per Mile (PPM)
|
Change From
| ||||
| Local Area |
2014 Survey
|
2013 Survey
|
10 yr. ave.
|
2013 Survey
|
10 yr. ave.
|
| Chamberlain |
6.55
|
2.66
|
14.38
|
147%
|
-54%
|
| Winner |
3.78
|
2.00
|
7.33
|
89%
|
-48%
|
| Pierre |
5.20
|
2.15
|
9.16
|
142%
|
-43%
|
| Mobridge |
3.59
|
2.12
|
6.88
|
70%
|
-48%
|
| Aberdeen |
2.74
|
1.70
|
6.11
|
61%
|
-55%
|
| Huron |
2.92
|
2.04
|
7.32
|
43%
|
-60%
|
| Mitchell |
3.04
|
2.00
|
5.97
|
52%
|
-49%
|
| Yankton |
1.36
|
0.68
|
1.40
|
95%
|
-3%
|
| Sioux Falls |
1.06
|
0.90
|
2.14
|
18%
|
-50%
|
| Brookings |
1.16
|
0.77
|
3.89
|
50%
|
-70%
|
| Watertown |
1.21
|
0.77
|
4.63
|
56%
|
-74%
|
| Sisseton |
0.77
|
0.56
|
1.94
|
38%
|
-60%
|
| Western SD |
1.53
|
1.01
|
2.68
|
51%
|
-43%
|
| STATEWIDE |
2.68
|
1.52
|
5.75
|
76%
|
-53%
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Every year counters drive the same route early in the morning to count pheasant broods on the roads. This provides a fairly accurate estimate of the year's pheasant hatch, Brookings encompasses the primary area in which I hunt. The survey shows a 50% increase over last year but it is still 70% below the 10 year average. Last year was a poor nesting season following a difficult winter. This year the winter was better and the nesting season was more favorable. The other negative feature for nesting success is the continued loss of habitat due to farming practices.
1 comment:
Good to see you blogging again! Hope you and Joanne are well and happy.
The numbers look up!
I'm thinking of trying to get out for some quail this fall - or what I call "an uncomfortable walk among the cactus with a 20 gauge".....There are plenty of them and the bag limit is 15 per day. We will see. Best to you.
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