Posted on 10/28/2004 3:13:08 PM PDT by PeterPrinciple
Forget the distractions at home or work. Come Saturday morning, 130,000 hunters have pheasants on their minds as they wade into chest high switchgrass or high-step over corn stubble in pursuit of Iowa's favorite game bird.
Even though ill-timed rains washed out a good share of this spring's nesting, wildlife officials still expect a decent season. "Our summer roadside counts were down 34 percent from last year; mostly due to the heavy rain in late May," notes Department of Natural Resources upland game biologist Todd Bogenschutz. "Hunters should still harvest 800 to 900,000 pheasants, though. It's still going to be a pretty good year for us."
Pheasant hunting success has been a mixed bag in the last few years. In 2003, Iowa hunters shot just over a million ringnecks; rebounding still from 2001, when the harvest of 470,000 hit an all time record low. Less than a decade ago, in 1996, hunters bagged 1.4 million pheasants.
The fall outlook reflects rainfall totals from this spring as well as long-term habitat. The best pheasant numbers appear to be in a roughly four county area around and south of Spirit Lake in northwest Iowa and in a band of east central/southeast Iowa from about Grinnell east and southeast, near Iowa City. In western Iowa, some fairly good counts came from the Creston and Atlantic region. Still, Bogenschutz sees hunting success as 'spotty.' "You may hunt some areas and do fairly well, then move ten or 15 miles away and the hunting won't be so good," offers Bogenschutz. "That's probably a reflection of how the rains came this spring."
Early nests lost to rain mean many hens re-nested. While later nests usually yield fewer chicks, it does improve the forecast. Bogenschutz warns, though, that younger roosters might not be fully colored in the first couple weeks of the season. Hunters may have to pass on a shot, if they are not sure if it is a hen, which is illegal to shoot in Iowa.
A major variable for early season hunters, though, will be the crop harvest. "Standing corn always makes early season hunting difficult and the harvest is running behind this year," reminds Bogenschutz. "A lot of the opening weekend hunting success depends on how much came out this week." Figures from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship show just 47 percent of corn acres were harvested by early this week. Soybeans were 95 percent harvested.
That will mean adjustments, but most Iowa hunters are there for the recreational and social aspects, too. And when they hunt, they spend money. "Hunters spend a lot of money, whether they are local or from out of state," observes Terry Little, wildlife research supervisor for the Iowa DNR. "Most of that is spent in rural areas. Nonresidents spend a lot on trip-related expenses; food, hotel stays, gas; maybe equipment they wait to buy here. Local hunters spend less on trip expenses, but more over the course of the year; gear and equipment." The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2001 Recreation Survey estimates Iowa pheasant hunters spent $53.2 million in '01. As that impact rippled through the economy, the multiplier effect topped out at $96.9 million. And, since that is from Iowa's record low season, it's safe to assume current spending is up substantially.
But that's the last thing on a hunter's mind as he steps slowly up to where his dog is locked on the red-hot scent of a hidden rooster. The commotion of the flush, the excitement of dropping the bird, and comparing notes at the end of the hunt overshadow 'economic multipliers' and 'sales tax revenue generated.'
Save the dollar signs for Christmas season. There are birds to hunt.
New Blaze Orange Requirement for Upland Hunters
Most hunters wear some blaze orange anyway. This year, though, it is required for hunting upland game. Anyone hunting pheasant, quail, ruffed grouse, woodcock, cottontails or jackrabbits must wear at least one external article of clothing; which must be at least 50 percent solid blaze orange in color. Items can include a cap, hat, best, coat, jacket, sweatshirt, sweater, shirt or coveralls.
I've never been a bird hunter, but I sure do love to eat pheasant. What a treat! Have a great hunt, PP!
I wish I could go with you and GWB, too! I spent quite a few years of my youth every fall with a springer spaniel and a .410 shotgun pheasant hunting in SE Iowa...one of my few good memories of the Hawkeye state.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.