2012 Prairie Grouse Primer - Forecasts - Tips - CO, ID, KS, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, ND, OR, SD, UT, WI, WY - prairie chickens, sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse

Most states west of the Mississippi have upland seasons for prairie grouse – prairie chickens, sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse – opening in September. These early upland seasons are ideal for dog work and sharpening your wingshooting skills. Don’t expect a lot of competition for spots, as many prairie grouse hunting opportunities are notoriously underutilized by upland hunters.


As the nation’s leading upland conservation organization, Pheasants Forever’s wildlife habitat mission is also being utilized to help prairie grouse. Nationally, Pheasants Forever is a leader on the Sage Grouse Initiative, and Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologists are working with landowners in the southern plains as part of the Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative. Additionally, Pheasants Forever chapter habitat projects where pheasant and grouse ranges overlap – Canada, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming as examples – are also benefitting prairie grouse.

Colorado
Outlook:  Colorado’s rich upland offering includes prairie chickens, sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse, one of just a couple states in which all three exist in huntable populations. The largest populations of sage grouse open to hunting are found in North Park (Jackson County), Grand County, and Moffat County. Greater prairie chickens are found in the sandhills of northern and central Yuma County, extreme eastern Washington County and extreme southern Phillips County. Sharptails are doing well thanks to the presence of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands in their range.
Sage grouse

• Multiple seasons, consult regulations for details

Prairie chicken

• Season: Oct. 1 through Jan. 6 (select units only, consult regulations for details)
• Daily Bag Limit: 2
• Annual Bag and Possession Limit: 2

Sharp-tailed grouse

• Season: Sept. 1 through Sept. 16 (select units only, consult regulations for details)
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit: 2 / 4

Idaho
Outlook:  Idaho is home to Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and sage grouse, and reports from the field suggest this fall will be promising, according to Jeff Knetter, Upland Game Biologist with the Idaho Fish and Game Department. Counts of male sage grouse on lek routes were down 13 percent this spring, but nesting conditions were favorable for production. For sharptails, eastern Idaho is the best area, namely the southeast and Upper Snake regions. “There is abundant public land (state and federal) and many Access Yes! properties that provide access for hunting to private land,” Knetter says of these regions. For sage grouse, the best areas to hunt would be the southwest, Upper Snake and Salmon regions. “Most sage grouse hunting opportunities can be found on abundant public land, primarily BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands in Idaho,” Knetter says. On the habitat front, the Conservation Reserve Program-State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice is being implemented in both the Southeast and Upper Snake regions to improve or enhance sharptail habitat, while the Sage Grouse Initiative is being implemented across the range of sage grouse in Idaho. Last year, Utah hunters harvested 2,900 sharptails and 2,100 sage grouse.
Sage grouse & Sharp-tailed grouse

• Season: Sharp-tailed grouse: Oct. 1 through Oct. 31; Sage grouse: Sept. 15 through Sept. 21
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit:  2 sharptails, 1 sage grouse / 4 sharptails, 2 sage grouse

Kansas
Outlook:  Populations of greater and lesser prairie chickens remain strong in west central and northwest Kansas, though down slightly from last year, reports Dave Dahlgren, Small Game Specialist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Greater prairie chicken populations have increased in northwest Kansas in recent years, so the state has expanded its early season into this area that includes some of the highest densities. The extreme drought of the past two years has especially hurt southwest Kansas, including lesser prairie chicken areas that have seen extreme declines in recent years. Dahlgren adds that the Flint Hills did not receive prescribed management burning this year due to drought, which left more nesting cover on the landscape and likely resulted in higher production of birds in that area. Last year, 6,200 greater prairie chickens and 400 lesser prairie chickens were harvested by Kansas hunters. New for 2012, Kansas prairie chicken hunters are required to purchase a $2.50 prairie chicken permit which will allow the state to monitor harvest with much more precision.
Prairie chicken
Early Season (Northwest and East units)

• Sept. 15 through Oct. 15
• Daily Bag Limit: 2, single species or in combination

Regular Season (Northwest and East units)

• Nov. 17 through Jan. 31, 2013
• Daily Bag Limit: 2, single species or in combination

Southwest Season

• Nov. 17 through Dec. 31
• Daily Bag Limit: 1

Michigan
Outlook: Michigan is home to the eastern-most huntable population of sharp-tailed grouse in the U.S. Last year marked the state’s first sharp-tailed grouse season in a dozen years, as the grouse population was greater than biologists realized. The hunt is open in parts of two counties in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Most of the sharp-tailed grouse habitat in the eastern Upper Peninsula is on private land, so permission will be needed from landowners. A free sharp-tailed grouse stamp is also required to hunt Michigan sharptails.
Sharp-tailed grouse:

• Season: Oct. 10 through Oct. 31
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit: 2 / 4 (limit 6 per season)

Minnesota
Outlook:  Minnesota’s sharp-tailed grouse count declined by 22 percent this spring, but the statewide index of sharptails per dancing ground was similar to the long-term average observed since 1980. Sharp-tailed grouse are more abundant in northwest Minnesota, but can also be found in east-central Minnesota. Minnesota typically has about 5,000 to 10,000 upland hunters who pursue sharptails annually, with a yearly harvest of up to 22,000 birds. Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Sharp-tailed Grouse Society recently, with the help of a grant recommended by Minnesota’s Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, acquired a 1,285-acre parcel in Kanabec County. The property, now permanently protected habitat for wildlife, including sharp-tailed grouse, has been turned over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to be open as a state Wildlife Management Area.
Sharp-tailed grouse

• Season: Sept. 15 through Nov. 30
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit:  3 / 6

Prairie chicken

• Season: Oct. 20-24*
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit:  2 / 2

*The application deadline for Minnesota’s limited-draw fall prairie chicken hunt was Aug. 17. Surplus tags go on sale Sept. 24^th at noon.

Montana
Outlook:  Montana boasts one of the strongest remaining sage grouse populations in the country, as well as the most liberal sharp-tailed grouse season – a four-bird daily bag limit – making it a premier stop for prairie grouse hunters. Across Montana’s sage grouse range, numbers are expected to be back at average or even slightly above average except for south central Montana. Sage grouse are found in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Regions 3, 5, 6 and 7. As for sharptails, an above average season is expected in Region 4, which stretches from Fergus and Petroleum Counties in the central part of the state northeast to the Rocky Mountain Front. Region 6, which has many times been the top sharptail producing area of Montana, should have numbers improved over last season, and possibly even above average the further east you travel. Sharptail numbers are also stable in southeast Montana.
Sage grouse

• Sept. 1 through Nov. 1
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit: 2 / 4

Sharp-tailed grouse

• Season: Sept.1- Jan. 1, 2013
• Daily Bag / Possession Limit: 4 / 16

Info on NE, NV, ND, OR, SD, UT, WI, WY and complete PF article

2012 Bobwhite Quail Forecasts - KS, NE, OK, TX, GA, FL, SC, AL, IL, IA

 by Jillian LaCross

When it comes to hunting bobwhites this season, it’ll pay off to have your homework done. With drought conditions spreading over much of bobwhite territory – the South got some relief – and the continued loss of habitat, most state departments agree it’s going to be a tougher year with scattered opportunities.

Last year, KANSAS had an average to below-average harvest. Though the brood numbers won’t be tallied until September, Dave Dahlgren, Small Game Specialist, provided an anecdotal report. Southwest and south-central Kansas have been the most affected by the drought, and those areas had already experienced a hard year in 2011. “There are some bright spots,” says Dahlgren. “It seems the Northern Flint Hills and northeast Kansas had better production. Parts of southeast Kansas have potential with the current habitat conditions.” Hunters will also likely find some spots in the north-central part of the state, based on preliminary reports from landowners and biologists.

NEBRASKA bobwhites were on the rebound in 2011, despite the loss of woody cover and CRP acres. Broods hatched last year were better able to sustain the mild winter that came to the state; however, unusually warm weather soon set it, and that could have affected department surveys. “Conditions during the July Rural Mail Carrier Survey [high temperatures and drought conditions] may have biased low the survey results and should be interpreted with caution. Results from the Whistle Count Survey indicated that statewide, bobwhite populations were comparable to 2011, with regional increases in the East-Central, Southeast, and West Platte bobwhite management regions,” says Jeff Lusk, Upland Game Program Manager. Jefferson and Thayer counties in the southeast region will probably be the best places to go, Wildlife Management Areas in particular. The full gamebird forecast will be available at www.outdoornebraska.org within the next few weeks.

Mostly due to drought conditions, the OKLAHOMA statewide index in 2011 declined 37 percent below the 2010 level, leading biologists to forecast low hunting opportunity in nearly every region. And unfortunately, that turned out to be more true than not. Last year, the number of hunters (17,000) and number of birds harvested (109,000) were the lowest numbers on record. The adult quail population was also low going into the 2011 season due to the high heat. Doug Schoeling, Upland Game Biologist, is hoping for a better year, and it looks like there will be a slight increase. “We had decent carryover into the nesting season, and a fairly decent first hatch,” says Schoeling. The department is seeing a high percentage of juvenile birds, which will help to “fill in the gaps of adult birds taken last year.” But the unfavorable weather, high temperatures, and little moisture have made it another tough year on bobwhite production. There’s still time for a late hatch if there were more moisture and a break in the heat, but birds can’t wait too much longer, says Schoeling. There are enough insects for food but it’ll depend on if the birds can find shade. Visit www.wildlifedepartment.com for updates.

TX, GEORGIA, FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA, ALABAMA, IL, and IA Forecasts

Montana Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters - Public Hunting Areas

Open Fields is officially here in Montana! The Volunteer Public Access-Habitat Improvement Program (VPA-HIP) - or commonly referred to as "Open Fields" - represents the first time federal Farm Bill funding has been offered to assist states in implementing private land hunting, fishing, and access programs. Recently, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks was awarded a VPA-HIP grant to fund expansion of the Block Management Program in new directions, one of which is the Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters, a new program that will be delivered through the FWP Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.

Although Montana's Block Management Program is extremely popular, bird hunters often agree that finding quality places to hunt birds gets trickier each year. An 80-acre CRP tract can have a lot of appeal for bird hunters, yet this small acreage often doesn't qualify for enrollment in Block Management when competing with larger parcels of property that offer multiple types of hunting opportunities.
Likewise, finding permission to hunt on private land can be daunting. Open Fields can change that by providing landowner incentives to enroll these smaller tracts of land suitable for fall season game bird hunting. Tracts enrolled in Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters are clearly marked by signs to help improve hunter access and management.

Program Details

Click on image for details.

For 2012, game bird hunters will have walk-in access with no further permission required on 55 enrolled lands totaling 17,000 acres of CRP and other quality habitats.

Watch for these signs!
During the fall season, hunters may walk in to hunt upland game birds and waterfowl without further permission. All lands enrolled in Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters will have boundaries signed.

Visit the FWP Hunt Planner
Hunters, go to the Hunt Planner to view Open Fields for Game Bird Hunter project locations. You may zoom in close to projects, create GPS waypoints, and even print individual maps for each project area

2012 Notice to Hunters
Be aware that some parcels of land enrolled in the Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters may be newly-seeded stands of CRP, may have recently undergone USDA-required maintenance provisions that include haying or grazing activities, or may have been hayed or grazed under the 2012 USDA-sanctioned drought & wildlife fire emergency provisions just prior to enrollment in the Open Fields program. Subsequently, for this first year of enrollment, the habitat on some parcels may not meet hunter expectations. Please keep in mind that these lands are enrolled in long-term contracts for up to 10 years, so subsequent years can be expected to yield improved habitat on affected parcels.

Downloadable County Maps
Downloadable county maps are now available for the 2012 bird season! Get your maps here.

Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters Comment Survey

Your opinion matters! Please take a moment to participate in an online survey. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks appreciates your feedback on the Open Fields for Game Birds program!

• Take the survey online

Contact

Need more information? Call Debbie Hohler, Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program Biologist, at (406) 444-5674 or by e-mail.

2012 Pheasant Forecasts SD, ND, NE, KS, MI, IA, MT, MN

by Larry Brown

For the 2012 season, pheasant hunters should expect one of those good news/bad news years. First, the good: The winter across most of our prime pheasant range was mild, a very positive change after a succession of harsh winters. And the spring and early summer nesting season was generally warm and dry. Result: Pheasant numbers increased almost everywhere over last year. But to put that into some perspective, last season was below average in many of the top pheasant states, and significantly below long-term averages in some.

The bad news is habitat loss, which explains why—even with increased bird numbers this year—some states are down in comparison to long-term averages. And it does not bode well for the longer term future of pheasant hunting. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres are declining everywhere. And that critical habitat loss will impact both nesting success and winter survival.
For this season, a severe drought across the Midwest has resulted in CRP acres from Kansas up to central South Dakota being opened for emergency haying and grazing. If you’re hunting on private land, you should contact landowners in advance to see how that will impact cover conditions where you’re planning to hunt.

SOUTH DAKOTA remains in a class all by itself when it comes to pheasant harvest. The state’s 2011 harvest of 1.55 million birds, although a significant decline from the 1.83 million taken in 2010, is over twice as high as any other state. This year, hunters should see some improvement over last season. The summer brood survey showed an increase of 18 percent in the number of pheasants observed per mile. Greatest increases over last year were in the eastern part of the state: Aberdeen, Huron, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Brookings, and Watertown areas. However, overall numbers remain highest farther west: Chamberlain, Pierre, Winner, and Mobridge areas. In the latter three areas, bird numbers are at or slightly above the 10-year average, while numbers elsewhere in the state remain below the long-term average. About 20 percent of South Dakota’s 1.1 million CRP acres are scheduled to expire this fall. If most of those acres are planted in row crops—and grain prices are currently at or near historic highs—continued prospects for 1.5-2 million bird harvests in South Dakota will be less likely.

NORTH DAKOTA claimed number two status last season, with a harvest estimated at 683,000 birds. That represented a healthy increase of about 130,000 over 2010. Part of that is due to an unusually mild winter, which allowed hunting to continue right up to the end of the season. That same mild winter, coupled with good nesting habitat and weather, put North Dakota on track for a season very similar to last year. In particular, virtually all of the state south of I-94 should offer good hunting for pheasants this season. Long term, North Dakota faces the same habitat issues as its neighbor to the south—but without the emergency haying and grazing situation for this season. CRP losses to this point have resulted in the state’s Private Lands Open To Sportsmen (PLOTS) acres decreasing from over a million to about 800,000. Hunters heading to western North Dakota, especially from Dickinson on west, need to make sure they can find lodging. The oil boom in that region means a lot of motels are full to capacity, year round.

NEBRASKA’s harvest of 218,000 birds last year was down slightly from the 2010 total (252,000). This year, rural mail carrier counts show numbers that are either comparable to last year, or up somewhat. Best areas should be the southwest and the Panhandle, although parts of those areas may have been impacted somewhat by the heat and drought. In the eastern part of the state, habitat loss—both temporary, in the form of emergency haying and grazing, and longer term as CRP acres expire and leave the program—will impact bird numbers and hunter success.

KS, MN, IA, MT Forecasts and complete Traveling Wingshooter article

Pheasants Forever's 2012 Hunting Forecasts

Overall Outlook:

While the drought of 2012 will make its impact felt on pheasant populations in the central Great Plains (portions of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska), pheasant hunters in the Upper Midwest (the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota) can expect bird numbers to be much improved from last year. Unfortunately, upland hunters will note a rapidly changing landscape in these states as habitat is converted to row crops. With commodity prices at or near all-time highs, and federal crop insurance coverage buffering the risk of planting marginal lands, grasslands formerly enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and previously unbroken native prairie are being plowed up at an astounding rate. It should give pheasant hunters pause, and more reason than ever to get involved in the work of upland conservation.
Many CRP lands and even some public lands were opened to emergency haying and grazing to help agricultural producers through the drought of 2012. Thus, hunters are urged to check ahead due to the effects of this dry season and land use changes. There’s some good hunting out there, it’s just going to take a little more work to find it.
Remember to always consult official state hunting regulations for rules and season dates, and please carry Pheasants Forever's code of conduct with you into the field this fall:

As a member of Pheasants Forever, I believe in conserving wildlife and protecting the environment. I promise to leave the outdoors a little better than I found it. I will hunt safely and treat hunting on public and private land as a privilege. I will always ask permission before hunting private land. I will obey all game laws and insist my companions do as well.

Good luck pheasant hunters!

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  2012 California Forecast

  Work Begins on Pheasant Status Report
  
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  2012 Colorado Forecast

  Drought Drives Numbers Down
  
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  2012 Idaho Forecast

  Autumn Looks Promising
  
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  2012 Illinois Forecast

  Forecast will be updated soon.
  
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  2012 Indiana Forecast

  Benton County Sees a Big Bump
  
• 

  2012 Iowa Forecast

  Numbers Finally Headed Back Up
  
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  2012 Kansas Forecast

  Drought Deadly for Kansas Pheasant Crop
  
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  2012 Michigan Forecast

  Replenishing Numbers, Renewing Interest
  
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  2012 Minnesota Forecast

  Ringnecks Rebound, CRP Losses Loom
  
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  2012 Missouri Forecast

  Forecast will be updated soon.
  
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  2012 Montana Forecast

  Back to Average, Maybe More
  
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  2012 Nebraska Forecast

  Slight Dip, Still Top Destination
  
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  2012 New York Forecast

  New York – Working on Habitat in the Lake Plains
  
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  2012 North Dakota Forecast

  Numbers Rise but Habitat Dives
  
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  2012 Oklahoma Forecast

  Ringnecks Rebound Following Drought
  
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  2012 Ohio Forecast

  Forecast will be updated soon.
  
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  2012 Oregon Forecast

  Pheasant Production Looking Good
  
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  2012 Pennsylvania Forecast

  Pheasant Recovery Projects Continue
  
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  2012 South Dakota Forecast

  Pheasant Numbers Increase 18 Percent
  
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  2012 Texas Forecast

  Forecast will be updated soon.
  
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  2012 Utah Forecast

  Fair Prospects for Pheasants
  
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  2012 Washington Forecast

  Forecast will be updated soon.
  
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  2012 Wisconsin Forecast

  Range-Wide Improvement
  
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  2012 Wyoming Forecast

  Big Horn Basin for Birds
  

2012 Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock Forecasts MN, WI, MI, ME

by Larry Brown


Grouse hunters in the Upper Midwest this year will likely start to notice declining bird numbers - the periodic “cycle” of grouse populations is definitely trending down. On the positive side, spring came early to the North Country, and reproduction should have been generally good for both grouse and woodcock. Woodcock singing ground surveys are stable, even increasing in some areas, indicating that the bird’s long-term decline appears to have taken a break this year. We’ll provide ruffed grouse harvest data where it’s currently lacking (Minnesota and Michigan) when it becomes available. We’ll also add brood survey reports as we get them.

Although harvest data from 2011 were not yet available when this forecast was prepared, MINNESOTA probably retained its position as the nation’s number one destination for grouse. But the spring drumming survey produced counts that were half as high as they were just three years ago. That is indicative of a definite decline in the population of adult birds. Anecdotal reports of hens with large broods, coupled with the favorable spring and early summer weather, provide hope that the young birds of the year will at least partially compensate for overall declining numbers.

The grouse harvest in WISCONSIN showed a slight increase over 2010: 337,000 birds bagged versus 324,000. But the 2011 spring drumming count showed a statewide decrease of 25 percent. While that sounds like a lot, it’s actually quite similar to the 2010 drumming survey. This means that hunters should be able to look forward to bird numbers that are perhaps down slightly from last year, but much like those of two years ago. Although the drumming survey showed the sharpest decline in the northern region, grouse numbers there are still the best in the state. And singing ground surveys show that woodcock numbers have been increasing, slowly but steadily, for several years.

Michigan and Maine forecasts and complete Traveling Wingshooter article

2012 Chukar Forecast OR, UT, NV, ID

by Jillian LaCross

Overall, state wildlife departments were optimistic last year about chukar production and anticipated an above-average year. This season has as much potential for chukar hunters – and probably even more because of the high rate of carryover in nearly every state. But a high carryover means a high proportion of cagey adult birds, which can make the season challenging.

Dave Budeau, Upland Game Bird Coordinator in OREGON, has a sense of this year’s population numbers even though surveys are ongoing: “It appears the expected fall chukar population will be about the same as last year, if not a little better, for most areas.” 2011 saw an increase in the number of chukars harvested, 75,500 to 2010’s 60,850 birds – the best since 2006 and close to Oregon’s 20-year average. “Winter was relatively mild with good overwinter survival,” explains Budeau. “Spring was wet, in places, but not quite as cool as the past two years. June was wetter than average in the western and northern extent, and very dry in late spring and summer in the southeast. Wildfires in the southeast this summer have impacted some chukar hunting areas, but there are millions of acres of public land still available.” Take a look at Oregon’s hunting access map which now includes the user option of overlaying upland gamebird range maps.          

Jason Robinson, Upland Game Program Coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources in UTAH, says they’re in the midst of the surveys and so far, reports are mixed. “The harvest last year was slightly below average, but chukar numbers are stable,” says Robinson. “The past winter was extremely mild, which resulted in good overwinter survival. But the spring was hot and dry. The southern half of the state was most affected. Hunting will not be as good in the southern half of Utah. The northern half of Utah fared better, with more production.” If you’re heading to Utah this year, your best bet for good chukar hunting is in the northwest.

Nevada and Idaho forecast and complete Traveling Wingshooter article 

Minnesota’s 2012 pheasant index up 68 percent from 2011

A mild winter followed by a warm spring contributed to a significant increase in Minnesota’s pheasant count, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The pheasant population index increased 68 percent from 2011. Pheasant hunters are expected to harvest about 290,000 roosters this fall. That’s up from last year’s estimated harvest of 204,000 but roughly half the number taken during the 2005-2008 seasons when hunting was exceptionally good.
“While the 2012 increase reflects movement in a positive direction, the counts still remain 51 percent below the 10-year average,” said Kurt Haroldson, the DNR biologist who compiled the survey.
While favorable weather worked in the birds’ favor this year, their long-term success is more closely linked to habitat than annual variations in snowfall, rainfall and temperature.

“The state’s pheasant population is linked more closely to quantity and quality of habitat than annual differences in weather,” Haroldson said.

The pheasant population estimate is part of the DNR’s annual roadside wildlife survey. The survey summarizes roadside counts of pheasants, gray (Hungarian) partridge, cottontail rabbits, white-tailed jackrabbits and other wildlife observed in the early morning hours during the first half of August throughout the farmland region of Minnesota.

The highest pheasant counts were in the west central region, where observers reported 58 birds per 100 miles of survey driven. Hunters will find good harvest opportunities in portions of west central, east central and southwest Minnesota.

The most important habitat for pheasants is grassland that remains undisturbed during the nesting season. Protected grasslands account for about 6 percent of the state’s pheasant range. Farmland retirement programs such as Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CRP), Reinvest in Minnesota and Wetlands Reserve Program make up the largest portion of protected grasslands in the state.

High land rental rates and competing uses for farmland diminish the economic attractiveness of farmland conservation programs. During the next three years, contracts for 620,000 acres of CRP lands are scheduled to expire. If not re-enrolled, this would reduce CRP acres in Minnesota by 42 percent.
Minnesota’s pheasant population largely has mirrored what’s happened on the land.

“Pheasant numbers were higher during the small, diversified farming days from roughly 1931 to 1964 when habitat was more abundant,” Haroldson said. “Pheasant numbers declined during the intensive farming boom from 1965-1986 as field sizes grew and habitat shrank. Then, pheasant numbers rebounded when CRP began in 1987. However, enrollment in that program peaked several years ago, and further declines will not bode well for future pheasant populations.”

To help offset continued habitat losses caused by reductions in conservation set-aside acreage, DNR has accelerated acquisition of wildlife management areas in the farmland region of Minnesota. DNR also supports habitat conservation on private lands by working with a variety of partners in the Farm Bill Assistance Partnership and Working Lands Initiative. More than 15,000 acres of private property have been opened to public hunting through the state’s Walk-In Access program.

The August roadside survey, which began in the late 1940s, was standardized in 1955. DNR conservation officers and wildlife managers in the farmland region of Minnesota conduct the survey during the first half of August. This year’s survey consisted of 171 routes, each 25 miles long, with 152 routes located in the ring-necked pheasant range. The complete report is available online.

Observers drive each route in early morning and record the number and species of wildlife they see. The data provide an index of relative abundance and are used to monitor annual changes and long term trends in populations of ring-necked pheasants, gray partridge, eastern cottontail rabbits, white tailed jackrabbits and other select wildlife species.

The gray partridge index also increased from last year and is similar to the 10-year average. The cottontail rabbit index remains below the 10-year and long-term average. The jackrabbit index was 96 percent below the long-term average. Finally, the mourning dove index was 36 percent above last year but similar to the 10-year average.

Original DNR Article

2012 MN Walk-In Access (WIA) Program Atlas Available

...providing public hunting opportunities on private lands thanks to volunteer landowners.

• Walk-In Access sites are open during any legal hunting season from Sept. 1 to May 31. Please respect private property and verify public hunting areas by observing boundary signs.
• No hunting is allowed in any WIA until it is posted.
• Only walk-in hunting traffic is allowed on enrolled acres. Land enrolled in the WIA program is not open to trapping, trap shooting, dog training or activities other than hunting. No vehicle traffic is allowed. Parking is along roads or in designated parking areas.
• Hunters must follow the Code of Conduct  developed for WIA lands.
• Emergency Grazing and Haying on WIA sites

Find a WIA Interactive Map Click on a county in the map to bring up detailed maps of WIAs

WIA tools Printable atlas (9.9 MB) Code of Conduct English Español Hmong Google Earth file (KML) for WIAs View WIAs in Google Maps GPS data DNR Recreaton Compass WIA program evaluation   Printed Atlas Updates Map update status as of 8/31/12: All WIA online map products and downloads are now updated!

WIA maps & data

All map data and map products (including Google Earth, Google Map, and GPS files) are general and do not accurately represent the actual legal or established boundary of these areas, and thus should be used for reference only. Please respect private property and verify public hunting areas by observing boundary signs.