2011 Iowa Pheasant Harvest Tops 100,000 Roosters
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| Fruits of the hunt! (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The
2011 Iowa pheasant harvest reflected what the roadside counts had
predicted, that the population was down after five winters with above
average snowfall followed by five wetter than normal springs.
The
Iowa Department of Natural Resources estimates that 109,000 roosters
were harvested during the 2011 hunting season, the lowest since
standardized estimates began in 1962. Harvest was highest in the
northwest region, followed by central and southwest.
The
harvest estimate is based on a random survey of hunters. The survey is
used by the DNR to estimate the number of hunters pursuing small game,
hunter effort by species and harvest.
The survey collects data on quail, cottontail rabbit, squirrel, partridge, and mourning dove, in addition to pheasants.
According
to the survey, an estimated 57,285 mourning doves were harvested during
Iowa’s inaugural mourning dove hunting season.
Predictions
for Iowa’s 2012 pheasant population and season forecast will be issued
based on the upcoming August roadside survey that will take place Aug.
1-15, on more than 200, 30-mile routes.
Weather
patterns this past winter and spring suggest Iowa will see its first
significant increase in pheasant numbers in 6 years.
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