2005 Pheasant Numbers Reach 40-Year High

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has completed their annual pheasant brood survey. The survey results indicate the highest number of pheasants per mile in the past 40 years, surpassing the previous high in 2003.

Overall, the statewide survey shows pheasant numbers increased 21 percent from 2004. The 2005 pheasant index is 74 percent higher than the statewide average of the past 10 years.

South Dakota again enjoyed a mild, open winter. Timely and abundant spring rains contributed to habitat conditions that provided excellent nesting and brood-rearing coverage. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres remained the habitat cornerstone for South Dakota’s pheasant population and the key to its continued health.

Pheasant survey routes sample the population trends of very specific areas and have proven to be a good indicator of the overall pheasant population. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks conducts the surveys on 109 routes throughout the state. Each route is 30 miles long. The 2005 survey counted more pheasants per mile than at any time in the past 40 years. In fact 74 of the 109 routes increased from 2004.

• Six areas had a substantial increase in pheasants per mile from 2004. Watertown and Sisseton areas each more than doubled their counts from 2004. Aberdeen, Huron, Pierre and Brookings also were substantial.
• Every area but one recorded counts higher than the average from the past 10 years. Pierre, Mobridge, Aberdeen, Huron, Sioux Falls, Brookings, Watertown and Sisseton all had substantial increases over their 10-year average.
• Overall for statewide averages, there were 6.63 pheasant per mile recorded in 2005, 5.50 in 2004 and the 10-year average is 3.81.
• Brood survey number comparisons are valid only between years within each local area. The number of pheasants per mile in some of South Dakota’s prime pheasant range remain highest, even though the increase in the number of pheasants in these specific areas may not be as great.

In the early 1960’s the pheasant population in South Dakota reached one of the highest levels ever recorded in the United States due in a large part to the habitat provided by the Soil Bank set-aside acre farm program. In 1963 the statewide brood survey index was 11.1 pheasants per mile in the state. The next year the Soil Bank program was dissolved and the pheasant estimate was less than four per mile. By 1969 the number had fallen to less than two per mile. A low of one pheasant seen per mile was recorded in 1976.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), along with other habitat provided on private and public lands and good weather conditions have brought this state’s pheasant numbers back to lofty levels. In 2003 an estimated 1.8 million roosters were harvested in South Dakota, and in 2004 an estimated 1.65 million were harvested.

However, the densities of pheasants alone do not equal high or low hunter success and satisfaction. Access to hunting opportunities is equally important. Most of South Dakota is private land and permission is required from landowners before hunting can take place there. Those wishing to hunt private land must plan carefully and make personal contacts with landowners prior to their hunt.

To go with approximately 325,000 acres of State Game Production Area land and Federal Waterfowl Production Area land, South Dakota offers over 1 million acres of private land leased for public hunting through the Walk-In Area Program.

This year’s pheasant numbers and access opportunities once again affirm South Dakota as the "Pheasant Capitol of the World."