| In early August, I had written concerning the | | | | average, this year's index is 13% higher (2010 = |
| pre-2010 brood count, I highlighted the 2009 | | | | 6.45, 10-year ave. = 5.71) and the fourth highest |
| report and tried to give my best guess | | | | statewide PPM since 1963 during the Soil Bank |
| concerning the 2010 South Dakota pheasant | | | | era."(2) This may be because, as I mentioned |
| hunting season. How did I do? Based on the 2010 | | | | before, of many areas having high quality cover, |
| report I think I hit it spot on with some areas | | | | due to the snow and rain we had, for the birds to |
| even showing improvement. The gist of the 2010 | | | | hide in. Affording protection from predators and |
| brood count is that the overall count shows an | | | | weather. |
| increase over the 2009 brood count. In spite of | | | | The report continues, "the total number of |
| the harsh winter we had and the wet spring that | | | | roosters counted during the 2010 survey was |
| followed. How wet was it? There was an area, | | | | down 2% from the 2009 survey (2,045 vs. |
| that is normally counted, that could not be | | | | 2,078). In addition, the number of hens counted |
| accessed this year because of the roads having | | | | was down 4% from last year (3,037 vs. 3,170). |
| standing water on them. | | | | Total broods counted increased by 1% (2,581 vs. |
| Pheasants in South Dakota face a lot of | | | | 2,565), while the statewide average brood size |
| adversity, predators, hunting, weather, lack of | | | | increased by 4% (6.25 vs. 6.03)."(2) |
| food. And yet they seem to continue to give us | | | | The SDGF&P states, and I agree, "2010 is looking |
| numbers that allow the SD game fish and parks | | | | to be as good as or better than the 2009 |
| to maintain the daily and possession limit numbers | | | | pheasant hunting harvest was." There is over |
| from year to year, 3 daily - 15 in possession. | | | | 700,000 acres of public hunting land in the heart |
| Before we move into the 2010 report, keep the | | | | of the South Dakota pheasant hunting area. But |
| following in mind. The last time SD pheasant | | | | maybe you're planning on hunting on private |
| hunters' harvested less than 1 million pheasants, | | | | property. I want to remind you to ask for |
| was in 1992, yet the harvest was nearly 970,000 | | | | permission first and than honor it. Good hunting |
| birds. Using that year as the base line and jumping | | | | ethics goes a long way in keeping the available |
| ahead 10 years we find that the average yearly | | | | private lands, just that, available. At any time a |
| harvest, since 2002, has been 1,778,985. Last | | | | farmer can shut down the access to his property |
| year, in 2009, the harvest was 1,648,191. That | | | | due to fences, crops or both being damaged by |
| was the 2nd lowest since 2002 with 2007 | | | | hunters who don't seem to care or think they |
| reporting just over 2 million birds harvested. | | | | have the right to be on private property. |
| "The 2009 brood route survey indicated that the | | | | Also, keep in mind that that same great cover |
| South Dakota pheasant population had declined 26 | | | | that has been protecting the pheasants, through |
| percent from the 2008 observation. However, | | | | harsh weather and predation, is still going to be |
| 2007 and 2008 produced two of the highest | | | | there and will make for some hard but rewarding |
| pheasant counts in more than 40 years. The | | | | hunting. So strap on your hunting boots and start |
| 2009 survey was 13 percent higher than the | | | | walking. Not just you, but your dog as well. If you |
| 10-year average and was the fourth highest | | | | have some wrist weights strap them on too. |
| count per mile in the past 45 years."(1) | | | | They will help get those arms back into condition |
| Looking at the 2010 report, we find, "Results | | | | for caring that shotgun. The time to get back into |
| from the 2010 pheasant brood survey indicate | | | | shape is before you hit the fields. Your body and |
| the statewide Pheasants Per Mile (PPM) index | | | | your dog will thank you. Both of you will have a |
| increased slightly by 3% (6.26 to 6.45) compared | | | | better hunting experience because of it. |
| to the 2009 index. In comparison to the 10-year | | | | |