[Dino]

Having hunted roughly from Bismarck to Dickinson, Lake Sak to Elgin and around the Linton area, I have noticed a distinct lack of habitat and more importantly very little habitat improvement projects. Toward Oakes I have seen some work done. What are the reasons for this and is habitat work just starting to gain steam? I do not notice much at all in the way of Pheasants Forever work (a few people gave me a blank stare when I asked about it). Are there active chapters in western ND doing good habitat work?

 

[Field Hunter]

You must have been here after the CRP and PLOTs were cut this year due to drought conditions. ND has one of the largest if not the largest CRP enrollment in the nation. There are also thousands of cattail marshes for Winter cover. I do think there are many PF chapters in the state. The biggest problem is that local sportsmen in lets say, Linton, are not gauranteed access just by belonging. The habitat is there. It still boils down to pressure and access. IMO.

 

[Dino]

FH,
I have been there both before and after this years drought issue. Specifically west of Bismarck, the habitat could use some improvement. I don't believe the reason to belong to PF and do habitat work is to gain personal access. Sure there are places where there is habitat, and that is where you find the birds. But to rely upon CRP and PLOTS is really putting your eggs in one basket (or two, I guess). As was seen this year with CRP and PLOTS, they were worthless in terms of habitat. Many of the public areas (non-PLOTS) could be much better. Some are good, but there is so much room for improvement. Local efforts can really help a whole area and it will result in better hunting for everybody.

 

[H2OfowlND]

Dino--what kind of improvement(s) are you talking about?? Are you talking farmers improving, sportspersons, local organizations, the state?? The biggest improvement we can have is mother nature keeping our state lush and green with timely rains. You also have to remember what type of soil is in the pheasant belt. When its dry its unworkable, and when its wet its like "gumbo". I've seen good years where everything is green, and saw the next where everything is brown in July. You can only do so much with what you have(land, money, time). Not trying to get on your case, but just asking about the improvements that are supposed to be made to our state.

H2OfowlND

 

[Fetch]

There has never been a shortage of food for wildlife - Unless we have severe winter snow - so that the game can't get down to the food.

Because of the recent years of very wet (even the drought) in parts of ND has only been a recent thing (what ? past couple of years???) So cover has been good - especially where CRP has not been completely removed.

Winters have been extremely mild

Some of the worst predators are down (ie: fox) from past mange- Birds of prey & skunks & racoons are still bad.

Ag practices have gone from summer follow - to wall to wall & anhydrous - to no till - sure some places could leave some more edges etc.

Mother Nature & private owners of land - have the most to do with habitat - Spring storms & heavy snow & lots of snow storms & cold winters hurt pheasants & deer the most. (Pheasants are not as bright as sharptails) But at $100 a day per gun (or MORE) they are releasing enough birds to keep the suckers coming back :roll:

Things do go in cycles like the down side of Partridge - kinda disapointing considering the 10 + years of great habitat we have had ???

Corn seems to be on the increase as well as sunflowers

Hunting pressure can deplete birds in some over used areas - (for upland) & for waterfowl it can kill alot of young new birds (too many) especially when we had some of the few really good wetlands the past couple of years - compared to the entire prairie pot hole region.

Also Pressure forces the birds to bigger waters & out of State too soon - But last year the early cold weather did most of that.