Bad news for pheasant hunters

[AspenBud]

Is this happening here too?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/us/as-pheasants-disappear-hunters-in-iowa-follow.html

[Bob33]

Yes.

"Over the last two decades, Iowa has lost more than 1.6 million acres of habitat suitable for pheasants and other small game, the equivalent of a nine-mile-wide strip of land stretching practically the width of the state. And these declines have been occurring nationwide."

[turkeyfeather]

Unfortunately, Bob is right. This kind of thing is happening everywhere. Good habitat is being lost and farmers that used to let people hunt birds are closing their property and CRP land is declining as well. I wouldn't be surprised to see pheasants pretty much nonexistent in another two decades.

[Moose-head]

   Something that is mentioned on the second page of the article is the lack of public land opportunity in Iowa.  I moved there for school and there is no place for a “newb” to hunt.  The article points out that landowners usually do not charge for hunting on their land.  They also don’t welcome new hunters.  It is not that they are rude about it, but they have promised the same groups of people that they will have exclusive access to hunt their property by themselves like they always have.  I eventually gained access to some deer property, but never bought a license.  On web forums out west people who have never hunted can ask how to go about it and advice is often to go look at the large tracts of public land and then narrow it down from there.  There are even offers to help to find some good places.  If you are new to the area or new to hunting there is no incentive to buy licenses and hunt.  There are some beautiful deer out there, but not enough opportunity for new hunters IMHO.

[MR5x5]

I do not believe this is happening in WA. 
Take the state by regions;
Columbia Basin - Irrigated and generally farmed to the edges.  Canadian beef issues, bio-fuel stock etc have driven feed corn production in the basin area hugely over the last 5-10 yrs. There has been so much corn that hunting has been pretty tough until the end of Nov when enough came down that the birds were around. I believe hawks, eagles and yotes are the biggest pressure outside of weather.  And the spring weather this year was tough.  Birds in the basin are down this year.
North Central Wheat/Barley - Dry farmed scab lands - does not support corn - what is farmeable is largely already in crops.  In fact more crop lands would help by producing more feed.  Predators abound in this area.  Last spring the weather was moderate.  Bird numbers were good but not great this year.
Central/Central - Dry farmed scab lands - dry dry dry - a lot of years to damn try to support spring chicks.
SE WA - Oh the Palouse...  Same as it ever was - Dry land wheat - will not support corn.  The ground that can be farmed is being farmed.  Lots of CRP.  Lots of natural cover that can't be farmed - to steep - to wet - river bottoms etc.  Bird numbers in this region were just fine this year. Helps to be half mtn goat to hunt the Palouse.  Pine forests are your friend in this region.

Lots of rambling indeed - nope we don't have the bird numbers of the 70's when the fields were ripe with sugar beats.  But there are a lot of birds for those willing to figure them out.  My advice is to consider the spring rains. Too wet is bad, too dry is bad.  Their are multiple micro climates and rain shadows on the east side.  You need to think it through and check regions to find the where the birds are doing well that year.   

No BS - we have literally been seeing better than 100 birds a day over the past month of hunting a couple different regions.

[turkeyfeather]

WOW MR5x5! I need to come hunt with you then. My wife and I walked fields two weekends ago here south of Spokane and in 2 hours only saw 3 birds (only 1 rooster).

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I don't think it's happening here either, I have been spending my time around South of Spokane and have been seeing tons of birds.  Big groups of 10 30 birds, on state land and hunt by permission land. They aren't dumb either, they have been hunted a lot so getting them to flush close enough has been a challenge!  When the snow hit,  they grouped up and seemed to be everywhere! I think we got a few more decades of good hunting down there.

[boneaddict]

Hawks bug me more than anything.   They seem to be as common as starlings these days. I could see and photgraph 10 or more in a ONE MILE drive from my house. 

I planted an acre of corn and left it unharvested.   The pheasants are loving it.   Got some great photos just this morning.   Its one little small thing I can do to help.   

[rasbo]

I seen more pheasant in west grant county this year than the last 3ys..

[JLS]

Hawks bug me more than anything.   They seem to be as common as starlings these days. I could see and photgraph 10 or more in a ONE MILE drive from my house. 

I planted an acre of corn and left it unharvested.   The pheasants are loving it.   Got some great photos just this morning.   Its one little small thing I can do to help.

I agree, there has been a huge proliferation of raptors in the last couple of decades.  I think that is a big reason why the "marginal" habitat areas now hold very few birds.  A lot of the CRP in Adams County  and many other eastern counties is just not heavy enough to provide cover from aerial predators.  The good habitat areas still produce birds.

[Special T]

I know in the basin area another HUGE killer of pheasant are the swathers knocking the heads off of hens sitting on eggs. MR5x5 a LOT of the problem with pheasant numbers comes down to  Crop harvest cycle and Winter cover from predators. "Clean Farming" has made it hard for pheasants to do good. This state could do much better if it got a handle on its predators. In the basin on/near my brother in laws farm we kill every predatory we can legally. No matter how many coyotes we kill we never seem to thin them enough to make a dent. Mag pies... For what every reason people are weary of shooting them. You can shoot them in the act of depredation.

[singleshot12]

Shrinking conservation lands,predation,cold and damp weather yes, but it doesn't look like anyone has mentioned the use of pesticides by modern efficiant farming practices. Pheasant chicks solely depend apon a variety of bugs,insects and worms for their first couple weeks of life. Is it just coincidence the decline started about the same time the pesticide revelution started?

[Birdguy]

It is actually a pretty good testament to mother nature that we even have what we do have. I was talking to my wife and kids on our trip home from the east side on Monday about all the predators. Seems anymore every light pole or power pole, tree, bush, even street sign has a hawk/owl/eagle on it. I remember as a kid we owner a Toyota landcruiser with a sunroof  , and man it was cool to see a large hawk or eagle through it as we drove east or west. Now all I see is prey animals that are taking out all the gamebirds I would love to hunt. I can only remember a coupe times seeing coyote killed on the road in the hundreds of trips we took as kids now it seems ever trip has a couple on the road and if you are looking a half dozen along the road as you drive. We have lost chicken to eagles right out of our pens this year and several of them. I have lived in the same general area for almost 40 years and we have NEVER covered our chicken pen form aerial predators until this year. I am delighted to see the return of the bald eagle and many of the birds of prey but too many of anything is not a good thing. I think the state should issue a few hawk tags, and coyote harvest should be mandatory with every small game license just to help out the cause.

[eastsidemallard74]

We were goose hunting near Moses , and 2 Yotes came within 100yrds of our blinds this last weekend,unfortunately I only had a shotgun.The rifle was in the truck.Living out here you see tons of them, and for the most part they get shot on the spot.But theres no way to control them if their harvesting pups left and right.

[Stilly bay]

It is actually a pretty good testament to mother nature that we even have what we do have. I was talking to my wife and kids on our trip home from the east side on Monday about all the predators. Seems anymore every light pole or power pole, tree, bush, even street sign has a hawk/owl/eagle on it. I remember as a kid we owner a Toyota landcruiser with a sunroof  , and man it was cool to see a large hawk or eagle through it as we drove east or west. Now all I see is prey animals that are taking out all the gamebirds I would love to hunt. I can only remember a coupe times seeing coyote killed on the road in the hundreds of trips we took as kids now it seems ever trip has a couple on the road and if you are looking a half dozen along the road as you drive. We have lost chicken to eagles right out of our pens this year and several of them. I have lived in the same general area for almost 40 years and we have NEVER covered our chicken pen form aerial predators until this year. I am delighted to see the return of the bald eagle and many of the birds of prey but too many of anything is not a good thing. I think the state should issue a few hawk tags, and coyote harvest should be mandatory with every small game license just to help out the cause.

  bingo
in the hay day what ever hawks that survived pesticides were shot in the name of game management. no so much today.
I have read stories from the 20's and 30's about actual hawk shoots where thousands were killed in a few days, and these took place all across the U.S.

plus back in the day every country kid was running a trap line keeping all the varmints in check, today you would be a social outcast in if people found out you were a trapper.

ad that to pesticides and modern farm practices that don't leave any suitable cover and not a drop of extra grain... its not easy  to be a wild ditch chicken these days.

[Special T]

If pesticides are to blame then why are Quail making a come back in places like the basin? We are seeing more quail in the areas where we hunt. In addition to anecedotal evidence i thought i red an artilce that talked about Qauil making a come back in the area from the basin to the tricities...

[boneaddict]

Quail reproduce faster and tend to be more resilient to people or Urban like.   Whitetail syndrome if you may.   

[boneaddict]

This morning in the corn patch......

[singleshot12]

If pesticides are to blame then why are Quail making a come back in places like the basin? We are seeing more quail in the areas where we hunt. In addition to anecedotal evidence i thought i red an artilce that talked about Qauil making a come back in the area from the basin to the tricities...

Also Quail tend to thrive better in non-agricultural areas. Fringe areas with rocks,sage, and canyons that are not farmable

[singleshot12]

Nice to see a couple roosters pickin and grinnin in your corn patch Bone

[Bullkllr]

Is this happening here too?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/us/as-pheasants-disappear-hunters-in-iowa-follow.html

Not happening IMO; already "happened".

[Special T]

I would also add that EVERY time farm commodity prices rise there is MUCH more incentive to farm every corner and up to any to ditch. leaving less for them to hide in...

[boneaddict]

I am sure you guys saw this post, but one of my favorite shots of the year so far.....

[JLS]

Great colors in that photo.

Another thing that hasn't been touched upon is the use of broadleaf herbicides.  Look at how many CRP fields and eyebrows are a monoculture of grass.  Then, think about where you find the majority of the birds.  It's usually NOT the grass monoculture.

[Special T]

My brother in law planted  a couple of strips of bird plots. The best ones for holding birds was a mix of different crops. I think he did 5 rows sweet corn, 5 rows Milo 5 rows sorghum and kinda layered them from lowest to highest. seemed to really hold the birds and made it great for hunting them.
The problem with most of the "non irrigated" cover seems to be that it takes so damn long to grow. they get taken over by weeds especially if you try and speed things up by watering them. The WDFW will come in and plant native cover for you if you pay them, or you can get seedlings from them, as i remember. He also planted some of those and i think has taken them at least 3 years and they are just NOW starting to look like cover but the birds don't really hang in them.

[boneaddict]

A tree they seem to love, and one I am not particularly fond of but planted a couple.....is Russian Olive.   Thats what I know it by anyways.   Thats what they roost in at night along with a bunch of quail.

[AspenBud]

My brother in law planted  a couple of strips of bird plots. The best ones for holding birds was a mix of different crops. I think he did 5 rows sweet corn, 5 rows Milo 5 rows sorghum and kinda layered them from lowest to highest. seemed to really hold the birds and made it great for hunting them.
The problem with most of the "non irrigated" cover seems to be that it takes so damn long to grow. they get taken over by weeds especially if you try and speed things up by watering them. The WDFW will come in and plant native cover for you if you pay them, or you can get seedlings from them, as i remember. He also planted some of those and i think has taken them at least 3 years and they are just NOW starting to look like cover but the birds don't really hang in them.

I believe Pheasants Forever will provide seed at no cost if you're a member and your land meets their requirements. I know they do that in other parts of the country at least.

[Bullkllr]

There is an interesting column in this month's Northwest Sportsman by Leroy Ledeboer about the National Wild Pheasant Conservation Plan. Couldn't find any on-line info.-anyone familiar with this?

Apparently this plan involves 29 states and is focused on improving habitat for ringnecks. The article detailed how in Washington the effort is focusing on improving/diversifying the vegetation on dryland CRP lands. Sounds like it should already be making a positive impact, but like any of these programs it needs to be widespread and continued to have much impact and that depends on funding and long-term cooperation from landowners.

[Special T]

My understanding is that Pheasants forever will give you the seed, maybe even plant it IF you open it to the public. Since that is not gona happen on his farm that is what he plants.

One of the problems with CRP is that even when you plan grasses and sage brush, the sage takes so long to get big enough to provide any real cover. bro in law had a fire on his CRP field after about 6 years worth of Sage growing.  It was just starting to hold some birds and deer. An electric pole shorted out and wiped out 3/4 of a square mile of really promising habitat.

[Stilly bay]

. An electric pole shorted out and wiped out 3/4 of a square mile of really promising habitat.

damn

[boneaddict]

What got the birds in our area were all the orchards being pulled out.   Hundreds of acres of apples.    Pesticides or not, they held a lot of birds.  That was the biggest dent.  My brilliant neighbor hates sagebrush.   Makes sense to buy a house out in the middle of it then.... anyways is trying to pull all of it in his vacant area.    DUMB.

[AspenBud]

My understanding is that Pheasants forever will give you the seed, maybe even plant it IF you open it to the public. Since that is not gona happen on his farm that is what he plants.

That's the first I've heard of that. Not saying you're wrong, I've just never heard that before. Seems counter productive since I would think the goal is to create enough habitat that birds start spilling over into public land.

[Gringo31]

No question that from Sunnyside to Yakima much of the habitat has been removed.  Fields have been drain tiled to allow for more farmable acres.  This habitat is just gone.  I've heard it said before, "feed the pheasants or feed my family".  Predators of the air comments are spot on.  I bet I SEE 4-5 pheasant kills a year from hawks....

So....it brings up a good question.  Many people see all farm ground as prime habitat.  They need to go visit that same ground in the next 30 days.  Much of this ground is bare with no cover and no/limited access to water.  The areas that hold birds this time of year is the same ground that you find the deer and the coyotes as well.  You need to look at those areas that can support winter survival and realize that is the bottle neck and what should be used as acreage for true carrying capacity.  Then come late fall, don't be surprised when you have a population of birds over 10,000 acres that seems low when those same birds will all be in a 500 acre area to surive the winter 

[eastsidemallard74]

So lets get our shoot on for Hawks  , I know a whole different argument.....

[boneaddict]

 

Might have to duck for cover when the success pics start getting posted.

[Special T]

I can tell you one thing that has been paying dividends is shooting mag pies. You normally find them in all the public ground. When you are driving around looking for hunting spots and see those funny 4x8 boxes on legs out in the middle of hay field, find the owner and help them kill abunch. Those boxes are for cutter bees used in the pollination of the crops and those magpies just LOVE to eat cutter bees and thier Larva. 

[boneaddict]

You just solved one of the greatest mysteries in the Kikendall house.   I have always wondered what those things were for.   I have almost started a thread a couple times.   COOL

[eastsidemallard74]

I can tell you one thing that has been paying dividends is shooting mag pies. You normally find them in all the public ground. When you are driving around looking for hunting spots and see those funny 4x8 boxes on legs out in the middle of hay field, find the owner and help them kill abunch. Those boxes are for cutter bees used in the pollination of the crops and those magpies just LOVE to eat cutter bees and thier Larva. 

Magpies are scavengers, I seen em eating the carcass of something out by a Pond in Moses.

[boneaddict]

THey are really hard on bird eggs.   Them ravens and crows.   The latter also get alot of chicks, not sure about the magpies and chicks

[Special T]

Cutter bee boxes are in full force about the same time that magpies are rearing young that cannot fly.  Sooo if there are bushes with nests with boxes near by....

[nwwanderer]

It is probably good to remember that pheasants, huns and chukars are all non natives.  We have pretty much created what they need to survive.
Leaf cutter bees are a great thing to see for pheasants, those acres of alfalfa are for seed, and are harvested late so the birds have the cover and the great insect populations alfalfa produces for baby bird nutrition.
Water use efficency has reduced pheasant habitat in our irrigated basin.  A pivot does not waste water like rill irrigation so the edges are dry.  Not so good for pheasants.
Direct seeding and CRP have helped upland birds.  Food in the standing stubble and cover in the CRP is a good winter combination.
Raptors and other avian predators have increased so great cover is even more important. Late, wet and cold springs are the most limiting factors.  Even if the hens can brood a clutch they starve to death in a few days without good bug growing conditions.
The numbers will vary drastically but generally the birds are doing pretty good.

[eastsidemallard74]

Big money for those bee houses.Ever want a gold mine, get bees and lease them out to farmers

[Stilly bay]

save a bee, shoot a magpie.

save a pheasant - shoot a hawk

[eastsidemallard74]

Its funny, I am newer to the Moses area, and never knew that it was such a big business,and how expensive those things are.Now I feel bad killing bees near farms. Dead Bee+Loss of pollenation=losss of $

[nwwanderer]

Leaf cutter bees raise heck with your roses and lilacs.  Those little oval or round holes on the leaf edges are the bees harvesting food to stuff in the holes where they lay eggs.  The little houses are covering bee boards full of holes which are full of developing larvae.  When they hatch they pollinate the alfalfa blooms.  Honey bees are much larger and not good alfalfa pollinators.  The alfalfa flower is spring loaded, honey bees do not like getting whacked in the face.  A leaf cutter, alkali bee and even bumble bees tolerate the blooms.  Leaf cutters are probably the most reliable and available for alfalfa pollination.  The seed producers buy the boards full of developing bees.  No honey but lots of acres for exceptional habitat. 

[boneaddict]

Thank you.  I wondered why they were so sought after.    I hate them on my roses and I get nailed by them in the hay country in the Wenas.   I love honeys and bumbles.

[boneaddict]

THe last two years we have had a couple terrible spring storms at EXACTLY the wrong time.    Quail regroup faster and get those 2nd and sometimes third brood in.   I don't think pheasants do.