E-Mail From DNR

[Mayfly]

Not much info here. I was looking for 2005 Harvest numbers and also asked if they gather any data on the hatch.


Tim,

We don't have our harvest estimates from last season in yet, but we're guessing it will be a half-million birds.  In August we conduct roadside counts across the pheasant range to come up with an index of pheasant abundance.  We also generate indices that look at hatch including number of broods and chicks per hen.

Another mild winter (good overwinter survival) and a warm and dry nesting season will likely lead to a good pheasant hatch and another year of harvest close to or over 500,000 birds, but we won't know for sure until August.

The August Roadside Survey report is posted on the DNR website the Tuesday after Labor Day or you can request information from me at that time, 2005 Harvest numbers should be in by then as well.

Thanks,
Sharon

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Sharon L. Goetz
Wild Turkey Biologist/Wildlife Research Biologist
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
35365 800th Avenue
Madelia, MN 56062  USA
Phone: 507-642-8478 ext. 224
Fax: 507-642-3178

[Benny]

I know for a fact they do the August road side counts.
So does SD, we saw them driving around both states last August when we did our scouting in SD.

Talked to a couple of them to see how the populations looked, but they never tell you much other than they seen a ton of birds.

I would suppose they are instructed not to say to much incase some one wants to publish a news letter stating how good the coming year is going to be when in reality it may not be so good.

We also ran into a couple of biologists last year in SD who were out in the middle of a swamp checking for nesting birds out in the cattails.

They new thier stuff and did give us the heads up on the record year they had over there last fall.

Benny

[Mayfly]

I'm just curious about the harvest predictiond from last year...I wonder how accurate they are?

Anyways the end of August I always look forward to those roadside results. I think Sharon probably gets annoyed from all my emails!

[Joe]

I still have the one you emailed me last October. It looks like she sent it to you the first week of September.

[GRIZ]

With what I've seen I'd guess the harvest this fall will be spectacular. In my area anyhow thier are so many hens raising a good sized brood that it's hard to avoid them with ur vehicle.