Minnesota - Despite Rough Winter, Similar to 2009

minnesota forecast

Forecast: Despite it's worst winter in nearly a decade, Minnesota's August roadside survey remains unchanged from 2009, when hunters harvested more than 400,000 roosters. According to Kurt Haroldson, wildlife biologist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Farmland Population and Research Group, hunters can expect a harvest around that mark in 2010.

The winter of 2009-10 was the most severe period for much of the farmland region in 10 years, which did cause some pheasant mortality. Spring nesting conditions were excellent early, but declined in June. And Minnesota lost 21,000 CRP acres from its pheasant range from 2009, but increases in enrollment of other farm programs and acquisition of public lands exceeded CRP losses. The 2010 pheasant index (62.8 birds/100 miles driven) was similar to 2009, but the hen index portion of the survey was 28 percent below the 10-year average. Overall, considering the severity of the past winter, pheasant hunters and state biologists were pleasantly surprised by the numbers this year.

The best opportunities for harvesting pheasants likely will be in the southwest where observers reported 104 birds per 100 miles of survey driven. Hunters also will find good harvest opportunities in the central and west central regions, where observers reported 76 and 70 birds per 100 miles driven, respectively.

Season Dates: October 16 through January 2, 2011
Daily Bag Limit: 2; changes to 3 on December 1 through end of season
Possession Limit: 6; changes to 9 on December 1 through end of season
Field Notes:In an effort to get a hunting walk-in access program off the ground in Minnesota, the state DNR has requested $2.7 million in federal "Open Fields" funding to establish a pilot program in the southwest part of the state.
Helpful Links:
Back to Pheasants Forever's 2010 Pheasant Hunting Forecast
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