Phez hatch

[DogDude]

Looking at the amount of rain Nebraska has gotten in the last few weeks, I'm wondering if this year's crop of pheasants have all been drowned?

Anyone got any idea what's going on with the birds?

I'd like to plan a fall hunt.

DD

[Travis]

DogDude,

I'm not sure what's going on in Nebraska, and probably the game and fish folks aren't either. Everything I read and hear is all about wait and see. The tally in South Dakota doesn't take place until some time in August each year, when biologists take to the field for a head count.

I passed through that area recently and saw quite a few birds along the way. That's an amazing state for pheasant. Too bad Nebraska is mostly on a program of plowing ditch to ditch. Having a good pheasant population is more about habitat than the hatch. If birds don't have some place to get out of the weather, and find a little something to eat, it really doesn't matter how many eggs are laid.

Trav

[Frank Ross]

Dogdude,

Travis nailed that question on the head. I live in southwestern Nebraska, and haven't been east in a while, so I can only speak on the conditions in our area. This time of year it is very difficult to get a read. The wheat is still in the fields and due to all that rain we've gotten lately, (almost 3" in one three-day period) it's very tall. The field next to my house is pushing two feet tall. Hens with chicks tend to stay under cover where hawks have less of a chance of an easy meal, so it's hard to know just what is out there until they harvest the fields in July. Cutting should start sometime around the middle to the third week is what I hear at the local coffee shops.

I've seen quite a few roosters in our area in the past few weeks, but only about the average number, and by South Dakota standards that's marginal at best. There's just not enough cover out here to get them through the winter and we're coming off a seven year drought that hasn't done any of the wildlife any good. Anyone with land along the river should be in better shape for birds, because they have an alternate source of water year around, and cover is always better along waterways, but I haven't been along the Platte since duck season.

Perhaps someone from the eastern and central parts of the state can give you some more information if you're looking at those areas. I'd be interest to know what's going on around North Platte myself.

[Brent]

Dogdude,

From what I hear it will be awfully similar to last year. Let me quote the Lincoln Journal Star (8/14/05)

The July survey indicated pheasants were down statewide about six percent from last year. The survey showed the number of pheasants seen was down about six percent in the Central Management Unit, down 25 percent in the NE unit, down one percent in the SE Unit, up seven percent in the Panhandle Unit, up 15 percent in the SW Unit, and up 93 percent in the Sandhills Unit.

These estimates came from their annual July rural mail carrier survey. Good Luck Hunting!!

[DogDude]

Brent-- Wow, up 93% in the Sandhills unit. Is that because they weren't many birds last year? When you start from a small number it's easy to get a 93% increase. I had a 100% increase in my pocket money yesterday when I found a dollar bill in a jacket that hadn't been worn since last year.

So, do you work for Cabela's?

DD

[Brent]

Well I didn't preform the survey so I'm not sure. But you have to remember how remote the Panhills can be in some areas. They might have gotten lucky and found a few families of phesants this year and only saw some singles and doubles last year. I'm not sure on the # of postal workers per square mile in the sandhills as compared to the rest of the state, but I bet its a lot smaller. Yes I do work at Cabela's

[RNTbomb]

As far as to answer franks question from a couple months ago. I don't know the "survey" number of pheasants in the area but after talking to quite a few guys at work. We could count quite a few pheasant seen around the north platte area during the first week of dove season.

The way things are sounding this may be a year to wake up early and put in a pheasant hunt instead of a duck hunt.... well maybe.