2016 South Dakota Brood Count Survey
August 30, 2016 by South Dakota Game Fish and Parks
South Dakota Game Fish and Parks reports overall pheasant populations are down 20% over last year statewide.
This report is only significant to show that the main issues to pheasant numbers are still at play:
- Intensive agriculture in the way of corn and soybean rotations taking over small grain crop acres is causing a decline in pheasant numbers
- The current farm bill has capped CRP acres and though farmers in SD want to put more ground in CRP the cap prevents that
- Weather is always a mysterious determining factor.
- The main analysis is focused east river and does not tell an accurate picture of what is going on west river.
- As was the case a few years back when GFP forecast numbers down 65% the report proved to not be an accurate indicator as to what hunters were to experience in the field that fall.
- The important factor to remember is those that farm for pheasants and have habitat have good pheasant numbers.
I had a conversation with a farmer today who was suprised by these numbers. This farmer has seen more pheasants on his operation this year than ever before. The GFP report does not reflect the increase in the area where this persons farm is.
Here is the address to the GFP South Dakota 2016 Pheasant Brood Outlook Survey Forecast Report-
