09-11-2004, 08:42 PM
The Forum
Published Sunday, September 05, 2004
Forum and wire reports
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The annual summer count of pheasant chicks shows a 9 percent reduction from last year, but state game officials still expect good hunting this fall.
Last year’s estimated pheasant population of 8.7 million was the state’s largest in 40 years.
Officers travel the same 110 30-mile routes every year to count pheasant broods. The count increased from last year on 47 routes and declined on 63.
“I don’t think that the change that we noticed on the routes this year will be real noticeable to hunters,” said biologist Tony Leif of the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks in Huron.
Leif said it appears that cool, wet weather in June killed some chicks. But GF&P officers also counted more hens with chicks than last year, partly offsetting the decline.
Though down by 9 percent from last year, the brood count exceeded the10-year average.
This year’s regular hunting season runs from Oct. 16 to Jan. 2. A youth season is Oct. 2-3, and a resident-only season on public hunting land is Oct. 9-11.
The GF&P will have an estimate on the state’s pheasant population before the season begins.
Antlerless licenses remain
More than 25,000 North Dakota deer gun licenses are still available after the State Game and Fish Department recently completed its third lottery drawing. Licenses will be issued on a first come, first serve basis for hunters who don’t already have a license, or for those who want additional licenses, according to Carrie Whitney, licensing supervisor.
Hunters can apply online from the game and fish Web site discovernd.com/gnf. Paper applications will be available beginning Wednesday from game and fish offices, county auditors and license vendors. Hand delivered applications will not be processed at the department while the applicant waits. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply.
Sharp-tailed grouse and partridge hunters may have to work a little harder to find birds this year, according to Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Dickinson.
The season opens Sept. 11 for sharptails, partridge and ruffed grouse. Sage grouse season does not open until Sept. 27.
The past year has been anything but normal for sharptails, Kobriger said. Drought conditions in the southwest and south central parts of North Dakota hurt production last year, Kobriger said. While winter was relatively mild in those areas, the northwest and north central portions of the state experienced a winter with colder temperatures and more snow than normal.
All indicators were pointing to a better gray or Hungarian partridge crop this year until brood surveys started. Harvest last year was up, the wing sample was up and rural mail carriers saw more partridge than in the past several years.
North Dakota’s ruffed grouse survey indicated a 27 percent population decrease this spring compared to 2003, according to Stan Kohn, upland game bird biologist.
[signature]
Published Sunday, September 05, 2004
Forum and wire reports
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The annual summer count of pheasant chicks shows a 9 percent reduction from last year, but state game officials still expect good hunting this fall.
Last year’s estimated pheasant population of 8.7 million was the state’s largest in 40 years.
Officers travel the same 110 30-mile routes every year to count pheasant broods. The count increased from last year on 47 routes and declined on 63.
“I don’t think that the change that we noticed on the routes this year will be real noticeable to hunters,” said biologist Tony Leif of the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks in Huron.
Leif said it appears that cool, wet weather in June killed some chicks. But GF&P officers also counted more hens with chicks than last year, partly offsetting the decline.
Though down by 9 percent from last year, the brood count exceeded the10-year average.
This year’s regular hunting season runs from Oct. 16 to Jan. 2. A youth season is Oct. 2-3, and a resident-only season on public hunting land is Oct. 9-11.
The GF&P will have an estimate on the state’s pheasant population before the season begins.
Antlerless licenses remain
More than 25,000 North Dakota deer gun licenses are still available after the State Game and Fish Department recently completed its third lottery drawing. Licenses will be issued on a first come, first serve basis for hunters who don’t already have a license, or for those who want additional licenses, according to Carrie Whitney, licensing supervisor.
Hunters can apply online from the game and fish Web site discovernd.com/gnf. Paper applications will be available beginning Wednesday from game and fish offices, county auditors and license vendors. Hand delivered applications will not be processed at the department while the applicant waits. Residents and nonresidents are eligible to apply.
Sharp-tailed grouse and partridge hunters may have to work a little harder to find birds this year, according to Jerry Kobriger, upland game management supervisor for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Dickinson.
The season opens Sept. 11 for sharptails, partridge and ruffed grouse. Sage grouse season does not open until Sept. 27.
The past year has been anything but normal for sharptails, Kobriger said. Drought conditions in the southwest and south central parts of North Dakota hurt production last year, Kobriger said. While winter was relatively mild in those areas, the northwest and north central portions of the state experienced a winter with colder temperatures and more snow than normal.
All indicators were pointing to a better gray or Hungarian partridge crop this year until brood surveys started. Harvest last year was up, the wing sample was up and rural mail carriers saw more partridge than in the past several years.
North Dakota’s ruffed grouse survey indicated a 27 percent population decrease this spring compared to 2003, according to Stan Kohn, upland game bird biologist.
[signature]