Theory

     Today I hunted with Frank who has extensive property about 40 miles from Sinai. The experience was much like that near The Little House. We walked 7 moderately sized patches of bird cover, mostly food plots. The result? We saw one rooster and no hens.

   Last winter was mild and pheasant mortality from cold and snow should have been moderate. Nesting season was ideal. There was rain but no torrential downpours that would flood nests. Neither were there days of cold rainy weather that would cause pheasant chicks to die of hypothermia. There are not unusual numbers of predators what would decimate the pheasant population. The May derecho should not adversely effect pheasants that hunker down in grassy cover and cattails. So, where are the pheasants?

    The only explanation that makes sense to me is avian flu. Corroborating this theory, which I’ve heard no one else express, is the lack of blackbirds. Normally in mid-October there are huge flocks of blackbirds migrating through. One of my clear memories of the opening of pheasant hunting season in med-October is the sound of flocks of blackbirds in the tress. This year there has hardly been blackbird to be seen.

   That’s my theory and I’m sticking with it!

Takk for alt,

Al

      Patuxai, Vientiane, Laos, built with money the USA gave Laos to fight Communists.