Top 5!

HollowWatcher

HollowWatcher

Member
In your opinion what are the current top 5 pheasant hunting states?

Here are mine.

1) South Dakota
2) North Dakota
3) Iowa
4) Minnesota
5) Kansas

I thought about putting Montana in but don't know to much about the state. I have Iowa 3rd because I believe this year was a really good year and that they are posed for some good things! One thru two is solid, but from 3rd on it gets tricky!
 
Things sure change over the years. There was a time that Iowa was used in the same breath as South Dakota and Nebraska was there as well. Now it's South Dakota and a big drop to second for the rest.
I used to follow the bird harvest numbers closely, not so much anymore, but my guess is.

1 South Dakota

2 North Dakota

3 Kansas

4 Minnesota

5 Pennsylvania " just kidding"
 
1 SD
2 ND
3 KS
4 MT
5 MN

I question the harvest numbers posted by the state agencies. Especially those who rely on the out of state hunter license sales.
 
Agree. There are a number of different methods used to count, and then there's the interpretation. Not easy to compare.

My tummy tells me:
SD
ND
KS
?
?
 
Here is the deal to me..... By saying TOP state or states , you must factor in things other than the at best estimated harvest numbers. By this I think things such as public access , management by the individual state , opportunity , proximity , license (bang for your buck if you will) etc....
 
esetter said:
Here is the deal to me..... By saying TOP state or states , you must factor in things other than the at best estimated harvest numbers. By this I think things such as public access , management by the individual state , opportunity , proximity , license (bang for your buck if you will) etc....
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I know, I get it and agree! I was sorta asking a seperate question, if any state ever had bigger numbers than South Dakota!
 
Anybody ever seen a chart or chart with state data? I tried to figure out numbers for KS about a month ago and it wasn't real easy to find info.
 
parooster said:
I know, I get it and agree! I was sorta asking a seperate question, if any state ever had bigger numbers than South Dakota!
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Was not challenging you my friend , excellent topic! Iowa was pretty darn good 12 years ago. woulda made my list then for sure!
 
parooster said:
I know, I get it and agree! I was sorta asking a seperate question, if any state ever had bigger numbers than South Dakota!
Click to expand...

South Dakota has always been king, but there's been a number of states that had very high pheasant populations over the decades. Even here in Illinois. --I stand corrected. Looks like Iowa had it's place at the top of the charts for a number of years too. Let's hope such days will return to Iowa.

Nothing to do with U.S./state's---but if you could go back in time and cross over into Canada, Pelee Island had sky high pheasant numbers too. Some of the highest pheasant populations I've ever read/heard about. Today, habitat loss had made the island a put and take island.

Nick
 
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Not too long ago Iowa was the #2 pheasant producer with good public land access. Now they aren't even making anyone's list while MT and MN are.

Iowa seems to have gone a long way down the wrong road:(.

Nick
 
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1pheas4 said:
No too not ago Iowa was the #2 pheasant producer (after SD) with good public land access. Now they aren't even making anyone's list while MT and MN are.

Iowa seems to have gone a long way down the wrong road:(.

Nick
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So true about Iowa. When I was growing up and living in Northern Il, Iowa was the place to go. We looked forward to the trip every year. Million+ bird harvests in Iowa back then.

Sure do miss those days.
 
I am wondering if those who put Kansas in the top 5 have hunted Kansas in the last few years!?! We used to have a pretty big group hunting Kansas, this year we were down to 2....well 3 if you count my 10 year old son. It has gotten to the point where Kansans with land go to South Dakota!

Rut
 
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