BISMARCK, N.D. - An update for hunters, pheasant numbers could be way down as a result of drought conditions. Peak hatching season for pheasants is mid-June when there had been almost no rain for more than a month.
The first 10 days of a chicks life are the most important and they need insects to eat.
“Without moisture that doesn't complete their life cycle, so there's very few insects, therefore chick survivability will be very low,” said RJ Gross, upland game management biologist.
The North Dakota Game and Fish is still conducting their brood survey so the will have more information on pheasant numbers in mid-September, but biologists say the worst area for the drought outlined some of the densest pheasant populations in the state located in southwest North Dakota
The first 10 days of a chicks life are the most important and they need insects to eat.
“Without moisture that doesn't complete their life cycle, so there's very few insects, therefore chick survivability will be very low,” said RJ Gross, upland game management biologist.
The North Dakota Game and Fish is still conducting their brood survey so the will have more information on pheasant numbers in mid-September, but biologists say the worst area for the drought outlined some of the densest pheasant populations in the state located in southwest North Dakota