ND Pheasant Crowing Counts Down Statewide 2013

North Dakota’s 2013 pheasant crowing count survey indicates that rooster numbers were down about 11 percent statewide compared to last year, heading into the spring breeding season.

All four pheasant districts had lower counts than last year. 
The number of crows heard in the northeast declined by 18
percent, southeast and southwest by 11 percent, and the 
northwest by nearly 2 percent.

Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the 
State Game and Fish Department, said only the southwest 
was initially spared a harsh winter, but a spring snowstorm 
in April buried much of the area in more than 
12 inches of snow.

“Had it not been for the long winter in most of the 
state and the April storm, I would have expected a higher 
crow count statewide this spring,” Kohn said. “But I 
think we did lose some birds during late spring, 
which reduced our 2013 spring breeding population 
slightly from 2012.”

The late spring snowstorms and cooler than normal 
April delayed breeding and nesting for all upland 
game birds, Kohn said, with early nesting hens facing 
rainy conditions, and probably some flooded nests. 
“On the positive side, this occurred early enough in 
the nesting season that most hens should have renested,” 
he added. “In addition, the wet spring seemed to 
jump start grass and forb growth in pastures, helping 
later nesting pheasants with improved quality of 
nesting habitat. Unless we experience some early s
ummer weather problems, I still expect much better 
upland game production this summer from all our species.” 

However, Kohn noted, the loss of CRP is going to 
reduce nesting and brooding cover in the future, 
and will negatively affect the pheasant population.

Spring crowing count data is not a good indicator of the 
fall population. It does not measure population density, 
but provides an index of the spring rooster population 
based on a trend of number of crows heard. Brood 
surveys, which begin in mid-July and are completed 
by September, are a better indicator of the summer’s 
pheasant production and provide insight into what to 
expect for a fall pheasant population.

Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring 
throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified 
20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, 
and counting the number of pheasant roosters heard 
crowing over a two-minute period during the stop. 
The number of pheasant crows heard is compared 
to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

Original ND Game and Fish post

ND 2012 PLOTS Guide Atlas Now Available ( Private Land Open to Sportsmen )

Private Land Open to Sportsmen

Valid through Spring 2013
The annual PLOTS guide locates lands open to hunting through agreements
between the Department and private landowners, as well as public lands such
as wildlife management and waterfowl production areas. Printed guides will
be available in late August from license vendors and county auditors located
around the state.  View list of PLOTS Guide vendors.

View weekly webcast on PLOTS Guide details.

Note: PLOTS maps change frequently as new tracts are added and others
are removed. Maps on this page are the most current available and are
updated periodically to reflect recent changes.

What to do if you find a discrepancy between the PLOTS Guide and
 conditions on the ground? If you find an area listed as a PLOTS tract,
 but that is not marked with yellow triangular PLOTS signs from the
North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the department suggests that
you err on the side of caution and avoid entering the area until you have c
hecked it out with us.

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Nonresident hunting restriction. Nonresidents may not hunt on lands
owned or leased by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, including
State Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and Private Lands Open To
Sportsmen (PLOTS), for the first week of pheasant season (October 13-19).
This restriction applies to all types of hunting, not just pheasants. This
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(PLOTS) Lands - PLOTS 30-04-08-01. Public access and use. All Private
Land Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) property is open only for public
walk-in access for the purpose of hunting within legal hunting seasons,
or as signed. All other activities require written permission from the property
owner. As used in this section, PLOTS is private land enrolled by the
department for purposes of hunting as established under North Dakota
Century Code section 20.1-02-27. Walk-in access for purposes of
this section is defined as an individual traveling by foot with any
legal weapon, equipment, accessories, and provisions for the purposes
of hunting. Hunting weapons, equipment, accessories, or provisions
may not be left unattended on PLOTS without written permission
of the property owner. Any person who violates this section is guilty
of a noncriminal offense and shall pay a one hundred dollar fee.

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More Information, Hunting Seasons Info, and ND G&F Website

ND 2012 Pheasant Crowing Counts Up 10%

North Dakota’s spring pheasant crowing count survey revealed a 10 percent increase statewide compared to last year.

All four pheasant districts showed an increase compared to last year. The number of crows heard in the southeast increased by 12 percent, northwest by 8 percent, northeast by 6 percent and southwest by 4 percent.

Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the State Game and Fish Department, said birds did not experience excessive mortality last winter.

“Even with the nice winter last year, I anticipated fewer adult birds to be available this spring because poor production in spring of 2009-11 led to fewer young birds entering the fall population,” Kohn said. “However, I did expect to see higher crow count numbers in the southwest because good numbers of birds were observed last winter, but it didn’t pan out in the crow count numbers.”

Even with a somewhat smaller breeding class of birds, Kohn said hens were in better shape this spring because of less winter stress. In addition, he said nesting habitat looked to be in pretty good condition in all areas of the state, and nesting and brooding weather this spring has been almost ideal.

“I expect much better upland game production this summer,” Kohn added. “Pheasant hens are finding better quality nesting and brooding cover on the uplands this spring, and with the good weather, more hens were successful with first clutches, a positive sign of a good production year.”

However, Kohn noted, the loss of CRP is going to decrease nesting and brooding cover in the future, and will negatively affect the pheasant population.

Spring crowing count data is not always a good indicator of the fall population. It does not measure population density, but provides an index of the spring rooster population based on a trend of number of crows heard. Brood surveys, which begin in mid-July and are completed by September, are a better indicator of the summer’s pheasant production and provide insight into what to expect for a fall pheasant population.

Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the number of pheasant roosters heard crowing over a two-minute period during the stop. The number of pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

Original ND Game and Fish Article

ND 2011 Pheasant Season Summarized - Harvest UP

More hunting opportunities meant more pheasants taken during the 2011 season, as last fall’s pheasant harvest was 683,000, up from 552,000 in 2010.

Aaron Robinson, upland bird biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the overall landscape probably didn’t have more birds, but Mother Nature allowed for an increase in harvest due to mild weather conditions and minimal snow cover in November, December and early January.

“This is a prime example of how the harvest doesn’t necessarily reflect the overall population,” Robinson said. “We actually had lower production in 2011 than in 2010, but hunter effort made up the difference due to last winter’s exceptionally mild weather conditions.”
Statistics actually revealed the number of hunters declined 10 percent to 82,700. The number of resident hunters was down 5 percent to 58,200, while nonresident pheasant hunter numbers decreased 20 percent to 24,500.

“However, the determining factor is many hunters were able to enjoy good hunting conditions with mild weather through the last weekend of the season,” Robinson said.
Birds bagged per hunter increased from 6.0 to 8.3. Each hunter spent an average of six days afield.
Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken by resident hunters were Hettinger, 9.2; Burleigh, 6.4; Emmons, 6.0; McLean, 5.4; and Adams, 5.3.

Top counties for nonresident hunters were Hettinger, 24.9 percent; Bowman, 7.6; Emmons, 5.6; McIntosh, 5.2; and Divide, 4.5.

Annual pheasant season statistics are determined by a mail survey of resident and nonresident hunters.

Original ND Game and Fish Article

North Dakota Spring Duck Index Remains High, Water Conditions Up ND 2011

 The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s annual spring breeding duck survey showed an index of more than 4.1 million birds, down slightly (-9 percent) from last year but 85 percent above the long-term average (1948-2010). The 2011 index is the ninth highest on record.

Wigeon (+15 percent), blue-winged teal (+12 percent) and pintails (+4 percent and the highest since 1970) were the only ducks to show an increase from last year. However, all species except scaup were well above the long-term average.

Shovelers were down 13 percent from last year’s record high. Mallards were down 4 percent, but had the sixth highest count on record. Indices for all other species were below that of 2010, with the most significant decreases for ruddy ducks (-62 percent), lesser scaup (-58 percent) and redhead (-33 percent).
“Redheads and ruddy ducks were at record highs last year, and scaup numbers were also well-above average,” said Mike Johnson, game management section leader. “So their decline was not surprising.”
The spring water index was up 31 percent from 2010 and 128 percent above the long-term average. It was the second highest in survey history and the highest since 1999. The water index is based on basins with water, and does not necessarily represent the amount of water contained in wetlands.
“Water conditions were exceptional throughout the state, with abundant snow cover and significant spring rains filling most basins,” Johnson said.

Additionally, reports indicate that all of the Prairie Pothole Region in the United States and Canada (from Iowa to Alberta) has excellent water conditions this year. “To our knowledge this is an unprecedented occurrence, at least since surveys have been conducted,” Johnson said.

However, nesting cover in North Dakota continues to decline. During the survey, Johnson noted many large tracts of grassland and Conservation Reserve Program land that had been converted to cropland since last year, or were in the process of being plowed. “North Dakota currently has about 2.6 million acres of CRP, which is down about 22 percent from 2007,” Johnson added. “Projections are that nearly 400,000 acres will be lost in 2011, and an additional 1 million acres will be lost in 2012-13. The loss of critical nesting cover will be disastrous for breeding ducks and hunting opportunities in the future.”

The July brood survey will provide a better idea of duck production and insight into expectations for this fall. Observations to date indicate prospects for high production across the state due to excellent water conditions and increased wetland availability for brood production.

Original ND DNR Article

North Dakota Pheasant Crowing Counts Completed ND 2011

North Dakota’s spring pheasant crowing count survey revealed a 14 percent decrease statewide compared to last year, according to Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department.

The only area of the state showing an increase was the southwest, up 5 percent from 2010. The number of crows heard in the northwest was down 17 percent, while counts in the southeast were down 30 percent. In the northeast where there is less pheasant habitat, the counts fell 36 percent.

Kohn said severe winters, poor production and loss of Conservation Reserve Program acreage have contributed to the decline in crow count numbers for the third year in a row.

“Three consecutive long winters with heavy snowfall have not been conducive to winter survival,” Kohn said. “In addition, after a tough winter hens enter spring stressed and in poor condition to begin reproduction, which may affect the number of eggs laid.”

Poor production the last three springs led to fewer young birds entering the population in the fall. “Poor production is a result of cool, wet weather at the time of hatch, which causes higher than normal mortality on chicks,” Kohn said. “I anticipated the southwest to have higher crow count numbers than the other pheasant districts because good numbers of pheasants were observed in this area last winter.”
Loss of CRP has decreased nesting and brooding cover, and Kohn said this has been most noticeable in the southeast where a decrease in CRP acres the last three years probably has had a significant effect on the number of pheasants produced. “Couple that with the number of acres of small grains removed from the landscape and replaced by row crops, lower pheasant numbers are expected,” he said.

In addition, predators could also have an adverse effect on pheasants. “I don’t have specific data to show a direct effect, but we do have an increase in mammalian predators on the landscape this spring, and they do eat eggs and meat to survive,” Kohn said. “I suspect they may be affecting pheasant populations in some localized areas.”

On the positive side, Kohn said pheasant hens are finding better quality nesting and brooding cover on the uplands this spring. However, high water will likely minimize lowland nesting attempts in many areas, so a strong renesting effort will be needed for good production.

“However, on dry upland sites the native, warm-season plants are doing extremely well this spring and one would anticipate a good number of insects and eventually grasshoppers to become available with a good legume habitat component this summer,” Kohn said. “June weather so far hasn’t been the best for hatching chicks, but warm evening temperatures have been good. Recent downpours in some areas may jeopardize small chicks in localized spots, but we have not experienced large scale hail storms in the primary pheasant range yet this spring. So at present, we are in a wait-and-see process on how production turns out this spring for all our upland game birds.”

Spring crowing count data is not always a good indicator of the fall population. It does not measure population density, but provides an index of the spring rooster population based on a trend of number of crows heard. Brood surveys, which begin in mid-July and are completed by September, are a better indicator of the summer’s pheasant production and provide insight into what to expect for a fall pheasant population.

Pheasant crowing counts are conducted each spring throughout North Dakota. Observers drive specified 20-mile routes, stopping at predetermined intervals, and counting the number of pheasant roosters heard crowing over a two-minute period during the stop. The number of pheasant crows heard is compared to previous years’ data, providing a trend summary.

Full ND DNR Article