2 days ago
South Dakota's fall pheasant outlook is ‘very positive'
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The forecast looks good for another strong season of pheasant hunting in South Dakota this fall, according to a state Game, Fish and Parks Department official.
This comes after a 2024 harvest estimated at 1.3 million roosters, which was the highest in four years and once again the best in the nation.
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A mild winter suggested that more hens were available for breeding this spring, and average temperatures and moisture during April and May produced good habitat for nesting and brood raising, said Alex Solem, a Huron-based senior biologist for the state Wildlife Division.
'We're set for hopefully a very productive fall with good bird numbers,' Solem said Friday. 'We're cautiously optimistic that we're going to have a very good fall.'
His comments accompanied a presentation on Friday to the state Game, Fish and Parks Commission during its meeting in Aberdeen.
Solem said the 2024 harvest, based on a sample of 15,000 hunters, was a 5.5% increase over the previous year. He said the 140,262 hunters who took to the field were up 3.6%. They included 58,195 residents, which were up 1.2%, and 82,607 nonresidents, up 5.3%.
'I can't stress how good last season was,' Solem said, pointing out that South Dakota saw more roosters bagged in the first two weeks of the regular season than almost all other states combined.
Hunters also took an estimated 98,962 prairie grouse, a 42% increase from 2023, which Solem described as 'crazy.' There were additional hunting days in January, but the grouse harvest occurs primarily in September and October. He said the 19,223 hunters were up 11.9%, with 10,898 residents, which were up 13.3%, and 8,325 nonresidents, up 10%. It was the fourth consecutive year of higher harvest.
Solem gave the commission an overview of how conditions can shape pheasant numbers. He said weather plays a major factor, with hen survival affected by the severity of winter, while spring moisture and temperature affect nesting. 'Usually cool damp conditions can hamper nest success on the landscape,' he said, with brood survival depending on habitat conditions and on insect abundance that provide protein for chicks to reach adulthood.
But more than anything, habitat is key to the long-term population trends, according to Solem. He said pheasants need grass, and having CRP acres and rotational grazing are important.
Solem said cumulative snowfall November to March is a predictor; the more snow, the more impact on pheasant abundance. Mild winters lead to better hen survival, according to Solem. He said South Dakota had 'a phenomenal mild winter' in many places with below normal snowfall. 'The mild winter can certainly help us,' he said.
But that meant other sources of moisture were needed to get grass growing to provide good cover, according to Solem. April and May moisture needs to be right between 4 to 6 inches to initiate cover. 'We've had really good timely rains,' he said.
April and May temperatures also matter, with higher average cumulative temps tending to match with better production, according to Solem. 'The grass is responding great. It's going very, very well,' he said.
Damage from flash flooding and hailstorms can reduce population in local areas, but quality habitat can mitigate extreme weather events, Solem said. Having good quality winter habitat provides thermal cover and allows pheasants to avoid predators, he said.
GFP Secretary Kevin Robling recognized the department's habitat staff for their efforts and the private landowners and ag producers throughout South Dakota who cooperate and set aside acres for wildlife management purposes through rotational grazing. He said South Dakota has 'a land ethic second to none across the nation' and the pheasant production reflects that.
'It has a lot to do with our ag producers and landowners across South Dakota,' Robling said. 'We thank them.'
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