Pheasants Forever reported Thursday that Nebraska pheasants numbers going into hunting season this fall are down slightly due to last year’s severe winter.

According to the Pheasant Forever, ”severe winter weather in parts of Nebraska and above average rainfall this spring impacted pheasant populations in parts of the state, with the overall rural mail carrier survey showing a 4 percent decrease. But where pheasants are most abundant – the southwest and Sandhills regions of the state, this year’s survey showed healthy jumps.”

Statewide, the pheasant abundance index was similar to 2009, Pheasant Forever reported.  ”Increases in abundance were up in the Sandhills (up 21 percent), southwest (up 13 percent) and central regions (up 3 percent) – and these are the top three regions in terms of overall pheasant abundance. The southeast, northeast and Panhandle regions were all down more than 20 percent. Top counties in Nebraska should be Wheeler, Cherry, Thomas, Blaine, Phelps, Hitchcock, Red Willow and Hayes,” according to the forecast.

Season Dates: October 30 through January 31, 2010
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12
 

Pheasants Forever’s National Pheasant Fest 2011, the nation’s largest event for upland hunters will be held at the Qwest Center in Omaha on Jan. 28-30, 2011.

Nationwide, Pheasants Forever reported that pheasant numbers appear to be holding steady in the Dakotas, Kansas, Minnesota and Nebraska, the heart of the Heartland’s pheasant range.

Also holding stead, according to Pheasants Forever are Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.

“The recently completed general CRP signup will likely keep the program at or near 32 million acres nationwide, much of it vital ringneck habitat. And the federal “Open Fields” initiative is off the ground, which will help states launch or enhance public hunting access programs tied to wildlife habitat improvement, according to Pheasants Forever.

In contrast to a respectable outlook across last year’s top five pheasant producing states are the bleak prospects for the longtime pheasant stronghold of Iowa, Pheasants Forever said.

“Across the rest of the U.S. pheasant range, prospects are murkier, with a snowy winter and wet springs hurting pheasant production in many areas,” according to Pheasants Forever.