Statewide Iowa — The countdown is on to the opening of the pheasant season this Saturday. Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, Todd Bogenschutz says there’s anticipation of a good season.
(As above) “The crop harvest has been running well above normal. The last couple of years hunters probably remember opening weekend pretty much looking in to see standing crops yet — which always makes hunting challenging when there’s that much crop standing. This year it’s well ahead of normal,” according to Bogenschutz.
He says numbers for other DNR activities have been up during the pandemic and that could carry over to pheasant season.
(As above) Bogenschutz says it will be interesting to see if there is a COVID bump as they are expecting 55-thousand hunters and a bump could push that to 65-thousand.
Bogenschutz suggests you scout out your hunting areas beforehand –because there could be changes.
(As above) He says the drought has led to some CRP areas being opened up to haying and that could lead to some field that are hunted being cut and there would be no birds there.
Bogenschutz says the August roadside survey shows there should be plenty of birds available.
