Diminishing pheasant population in KS

ƒORTE · November 6, 2008, 10:31 PM

Just got back from a barely successful pheasant hunting trip in NWestern KS. Bagged one rooster out of 3 that were within 40yds. Only saw 20 over the course of a week. What is happening to the pop out there. 20yrs ago would get their limit in the first hour of the first day. What's the deal?

zoomie · November 6, 2008, 10:38 PM

Corn isn't very good habitat.

ƒORTE · November 7, 2008, 10:39 AM

Not Nebraska...Kansas.

#1 wheat producer in the world(least it used to be), as well as milo(sorghum) and cane. There is some corn.

Dr. A · November 12, 2008, 03:19 PM

I've limited 4 times. My brother at least 6 times. Quail is good as well. Success can be regional. You were probably in a bad region. I hunt North Central. We are always done by 10:00

I have 100 acres of new CRP and 100 acres of regular non-grazed pasture with 70 acres of timber. It has at least 200 birds left on it right now.

guntotin_fool · November 13, 2008, 04:07 PM

One March or April ice storm can knock back an area for two or three years. And twenty miles away on either side it was snow or rain and the birds did just fine.

hogdogs · November 13, 2008, 04:59 PM

IIRC, we did suffer some pretty late season weather this spring too...
Brent

Brian Pfleuger · November 13, 2008, 05:05 PM

Heck, in NY state the only pheasants that exist are stocked weekly by the DEC during the season. Few, if any, survive. It's a pretty rare event to see one outside the season. Even then it's only shortly after the season, before the winter kills them.

zahnzieh · November 14, 2008, 12:13 AM

In illinois pheasant are pretty rare - didnt always used to be that way though. Yotes, coons, mink and other vermin eat the eggs/young/adults. Nobody runs traplines anymore to control vermin and also habitat disappearing fast.

November 12, 2008, 03:19 PM	#4
Dr. A Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2007 Location: Salina, KS. Posts: 215	I've limited 4 times. My brother at least 6 times. Quail is good as well. Success can be regional. You were probably in a bad region. I hunt North Central. We are always done by 10:00 I have 100 acres of new CRP and 100 acres of regular non-grazed pasture with 70 acres of timber. It has at least 200 birds left on it right now. Last edited by Dr. A; November 12, 2008 at 03:28 PM.

November 13, 2008, 05:05 PM	#7
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Heck, in NY state the only pheasants that exist are stocked weekly by the DEC during the season. Few, if any, survive. It's a pretty rare event to see one outside the season. Even then it's only shortly after the season, before the winter kills them. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

November 6, 2008, 10:31 PM	#1
ƒORTE Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2008 Location: Forgotten lands of the mythical Crimson Tide Posts: 395	Diminishing pheasant population in KS Just got back from a barely successful pheasant hunting trip in NWestern KS. Bagged one rooster out of 3 that were within 40yds. Only saw 20 over the course of a week. What is happening to the pop out there. 20yrs ago would get their limit in the first hour of the first day. What's the deal?

November 6, 2008, 10:38 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,862	Corn isn't very good habitat.

November 7, 2008, 10:39 AM	#3
ƒORTE Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2008 Location: Forgotten lands of the mythical Crimson Tide Posts: 395	Not Nebraska...Kansas. #1 wheat producer in the world(least it used to be), as well as milo(sorghum) and cane. There is some corn.

November 13, 2008, 04:07 PM	#5
guntotin_fool Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2004 Posts: 1,446	One March or April ice storm can knock back an area for two or three years. And twenty miles away on either side it was snow or rain and the birds did just fine.

November 13, 2008, 04:59 PM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	IIRC, we did suffer some pretty late season weather this spring too... Brent

November 14, 2008, 12:13 AM	#8
zahnzieh Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2006 Posts: 206	In illinois pheasant are pretty rare - didnt always used to be that way though. Yotes, coons, mink and other vermin eat the eggs/young/adults. Nobody runs traplines anymore to control vermin and also habitat disappearing fast.