Stage is set for big-time bird production

Pheasant hunters planning a South Dakota hunt this year have good reason to be excited.

This rooster is dressed in his spring best, trying to impress the ladies.

After a mild winter with extremely low bird mortality, the rains returned to the plains this spring and the landscape has come alive, setting the stage for a banner year of bird production. 

Ideal Nesting Conditions

Pheasants in South Dakota start nesting in late April if the conditions are right, but from mid-May through the first week or two of June is typically the peak of the nesting season. And this year, birds were able to take advantage of abundant cover without the added stress of extreme weather conditions.

Throughout May, mild temperatures and timely rainfall were the norm across most of the state. In fact, by early June, there were no drought conditions present in South Dakota. A few isolated spots were considered “abnormally dry” by the U.S. Drought Monitor, but there’s no doubt that the weather this spring helped kickstart and sustain cool-season grass growth, creating ideal nesting conditions for hens. 

When nesting, a hen will lay one egg per day, but she will not start incubating the nest until the last egg is laid. Then, the hen spends upwards of 23 hours each day incubating the eggs.

This image from June 10 shows the state’s primary pheasant range is free from drought or even dry conditions, Map courtesy of the U.S. Drought Monitor: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/.

Peak Hatch Season

June, and more specifically mid-June, marks the peak of the hatching season here in South Dakota. This critical time determines the number of young pheasants that will grow up and populate our fields come fall. With the continued mild weather and sufficient rainfall to grow flowers and create bugs, the current conditions are perfect for newly hatched chicks. The absence of drought means that food sources are plentiful, and the chicks have a higher chance of survival.

However, two additional factors came into play right in the midst of the peak hatch: the first cut of alfalfa, and heavy rainfall in parts of the state.

Pheasants love nesting in alfalfa, and this year the alfalfa benefited from regular rain just like other habitat. Many producers started their first cut in early June, meaning some nests and broods were lost. This happens in most years, however, so it’s to be expected. 

Secondly, torrential rains soaked south-central and southeastern South Dakota the third weekend of June. Upwards of 10 inches or more fell in two days in some areas, causing some localized flash flooding. While some nests and even chicks were likely lost in low-lying areas, the abundance of rain is a good thing in the long run.

June Showers, July Flowers

Pheasants are prolific breeders under the right conditions, so any hens that lost their nests will likely try again. In fact, hens will attempt to renest up to three times if their nests are destroyed or otherwise unsuccessful. The downside is that each time a hen is forced to renest, the number of eggs per nest drops significantly. 

Also, mother hens typically do a great job of brooding their chicks, keeping them warm, dry and away from rising flood waters. 

The good news is the rain filled in many wetlands, and it also will help forb growth in the coming weeks and months. Water and flowers means more bugs, which leads to fat and happy pheasant chicks that rely on bugs as a high-protein food source the first 1-2 weeks of their life.

Water + flowers = plenty of insects … and that’s a good thing for newly hatched pheasants!

Let’s Go!

As pheasant hunters, we know that a successful hatch translates to higher bird numbers in the fall. For the first time in years, we have reason to be optimistic, so check your gear, train your dogs and mark your calendars because South Dakota's pheasant hunting season is shaping up to be one for the books.