Gun Dog Forum

Normally I am a very optimistic, glass half full kind of person. But I have spent two weekends in SW Kansas hunting hard wearing out boots and dogs all for a grand total of four roosters. Luckily we have seen more prairie chickens and bob white quail so that is a positive. The scariest part is that out of the pheasants we have seen only three were hens.
I fear that with out a state restocking program the pheasant hunting we have enjoyed in the past will be just a memory in the state of KS.

Thoughts?

It is my hope it is just another down cycle, and they will recover. The problem is the lows get lower and the highs not as high.

I hunt north central Kansas and last year i only saw around 6 pheasants within 9 days of hunting, this year in 3 and a half days of hunting i saw around 50 to 60 pheasants even though they were mostly running and flushing wild i did see a very noticeable difference.I think we just need to hope for another mild winter or two and a couple of good spring's and thing's will improve.

If you look at it from the point of view of the best years of a dog's life, then the pheasant situation is not good in KS.

If you look at it and factor in politics and the cycle that politics and economics deliver, then the pheasant situation lies in the hands of folks who could not begin to care less.

If you look at it from the point of view of next year's Spring and Summer weather then the pheasant situation remains unknown.

If you look at it from the point that pheasants rebound comparably quickly and easily given a modicum of good fortune then the pheasant situation in KS is likely ready to upcycle a fair amount.

The SW part of the state got slammed by two years of drought, where all the cover got eaten of bailed.
If the cover comes back, the birds will come back.

KS had a record high pheasant population just two years ago, so I wouldn't overreact. It's weather, weather, weather. The CRP losses haven't helped, but things haven't changed that much in 2 years other than weather. Pheasants Forever has produced plenty of research proving that releasing pheasants in areas with wild populations isn't effective. If a wild bird can't make it, why would a pen-raised bird that's never had to feed itself or avoid predators stand a chance? They can rebound very quickly with good habitat and weather. 10 hens and 1 rooster can produce 100 pheasants for next year.

Nice to hear that so many dedicated bird hunters believe that pheasants can make a come back in KS. I guess I will go ahead and keep my dogs. LOL