Northwest Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist who tracks pheasant numbers says the late harvest is likely to hurt the success of some hunters as the season gets underway Saturday.
Todd Bogenschutz says standing crops give the birds places to hide.
Bogenschutz says the amount of crops still in the field really depends on where you are.
The DNR survey recorded the second highest population count ever — and that had Bogenschutz thinking hunters were going to do well.
Bogenschutz says it appears right now that those who put on the blaze orange and head out to hunt are going to see some good weather.
Bogenschutz has this prediction for the final tally.
Poor weather brought bird numbers down and that also led to a decline in hunters. He says there is potential to have much bigger bird numbers.
An estimated 55-thousand hunters harvested 22-thousand roosters last year. That was two-thousand fewer hunters than in 2016. Bogenschutz says hunters will hopefully have success this year and the word will get out and bring more people back. The pheasant season opens Saturday and runs through January 10th. Shooting hours are 8 a-m. to 4:30 p-m. The daily bag limit is three rooster pheasants with a possession limit of 12. Hunters must have a valid hunting license and habitat fee.
