Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Getting worried about the pheasant hatch


fivebucks

Recommended Posts

This wet weather pattern is getting me worried about this year's pheasant hatch. We are coming up on a critical time for them youngins. Let's hope the temps stay warm enough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Combined with the winter and this wet spring I plan to hunt grouse a lot more. Pheasants are getting everything they didn't need, gonna be a very tough year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll hunt phez when the ponds freeze and the ducks fly south. Figure whatever birds are left by then are dead anyway, especially with all the habitat disappearing to the plow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is going to be a late nesting for the birds in our area. I have been seeing a lot of roosters and hens running around. With a little luck we might still have a good hatch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saw first little ones. Unfortunately the dog got one. Must have just hatched. Less than 3" tall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Talked to my buddy in SoDak. There will be less birds. Weathe ris not the proiblem, the habitat is quickly disappearing again. He even admits to letting all his CRP contracts expire. At one point he had over 2000 acres in... now he is down to just under 500 acres. All the neighbors have done the same. He said it is the lowest number of birds he has seen in the spring that he can remember....

He did do almost 40 acres of food plots for the birds this year and planted even more wind breaks last year.... so hopefully we will be able to go out and scratch out some birds, but I think the days of 20 birds and 1000 flushes are long gone...

Good Luck!

Ken

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Habitat is going away faster than ever and so the birds feel the effects of every little glitch more than ever. I haven't seen diddly for pheasants around this spring. Lots of deer but no pheasants.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Gov policies like the farm bills can and will kill our bird population with this great loss of habitat.

Yes weather is harmful but with little habitat, it's all the worse.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last month I was traveling to south central MN, to around the Sherburn area. In taking a few state highways of the interstate, I noticed a substantial lack of cover, and a lack of birds, on most of my trip. It's disappointing to see this. Sign of the times, for better, or worse, I guess.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

They must be attempting to renest. Seing quite a few roosters chasing hens the past few days commuting to Cokato.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.