Pheasants surviving the winter in South Dakota

[Harold Pickens]

Jeff, was wondering how the birds were faring after the recent heavy snows. I was there hunting in mid January around Huron. There was alot of snow then, but the winds had blown the snow off of alot of fields and there would be lots of pheasants out looking for corn. It was hard to find a place to pull off the road the snow was so deep then. They sure are hardy birds, but I'm sure you are helping out their survival.
Craig, yes only cock birds may be shot in states that have wild bird populations, and you will flush 10 hens for every cock bird you see, and the cocks will flush further out.

[Dakota Jeff]

Hello Harold, the fields around me have had possibly a foot of snow cover for over a month.Not until recently has there been some open spots melt away.Ive talked to several neighbors and fellow hunters who have been out putting shellcorn here and there along country roads where they have seen birds looking for food.I have never seen these numbers of birds in our area in my lifetime.They seem to be wintering very well.Just hope we can avoid an ice storm yet as that is usually pretty hard on them.The cattail areas where they have been roosting are completely full of snow.Some evenings there will be quite a few flying up in my trees to roost at night.A lot of nesting area in South Dakota,CRP ground was cut for hay last summer because of the dry weather,drought,we had.Normally they allow you to cut 50% of a field for hay,feed.Last year they let everyone cut the whole field.It will take till June at least to have cover tall enough for the birds to hide in and nest.I farm and know animals need to be fed but I think it equally important to have habitat for wildlife.I left several 10 to 20 acre grass areas with cattails near by and put in several food plots in those areas also.We also sowed an additional 25 acres down to grass and enrolled it in the CRP programs Unfortunately the USDA will not let me plant a food plot in that area without paying fines and penalties. May have to put a feeder out there next winter. Jeff

[Dakota Jeff]

Hi Craig, as Harold said you are only allowed to shoot the roosters.Limit is 3 a day unless you are hunting on a preserve. Preserves are required to release additional pen raised birds on a percentage of birds harvested to keep numbers up.Limits are higher on some preserves depending on how much you want to spend.I met a guy this winter who has been raising several hundred a year and when they get about big enough to butcher he just opens the pen gate and let's them go.He commented they are quite thick on his yard for a couple weeks.I have a chance to get some birds from him this summer to release into the wild.I know lots of farmers in the area that have some good grass,CRP areas to release them in with hopes of getting permission to hunt there later this fall.I released some half grown birds several years ago in a good spot and there were lots more birds in that area for several years.I heard last fall that the GF&P would also purchase and release some birds to landowners if they had a adequate spot.I haven't checked into that yet.Jeff

[Steiner]

Originally Posted by Jeff Sweeter

Hello Harold, the fields around me have had possibly a foot of snow cover for over a month.Not until recently has there been some open spots melt away.Ive talked to several neighbors and fellow hunters who have been out putting shellcorn here and there along country roads where they have seen birds looking for food.I have never seen these numbers of birds in our area in my lifetime.They seem to be wintering very well.Just hope we can avoid an ice storm yet as that is usually pretty hard on them.The cattail areas where they have been roosting are completely full of snow.Some evenings there will be quite a few flying up in my trees to roost at night.A lot of nesting area in South Dakota,CRP ground was cut for hay last summer because of the dry weather,drought,we had.Normally they allow you to cut 50% of a field for hay,feed.Last year they let everyone cut the whole field.It will take till June at least to have cover tall enough for the birds to hide in and nest.I farm and know animals need to be fed but I think it equally important to have habitat for wildlife.I left several 10 to 20 acre grass areas with cattails near by and put in several food plots in those areas also.We also sowed an additional 25 acres down to grass and enrolled it in the CRP programs Unfortunately the USDA will not let me plant a food plot in that area without paying fines and penalties. May have to put a feeder out there next winter. Jeff

God bless you Brother.