Wildturkey 2
Active Member
There’s is a hard crust out there now I was pushing snow yesterday.
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
From what I’m seeing it’s not looking good for pheasants and quail right now. Lots of dead birds on the roads in NW Iowa.
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Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
That is a bummer ! How much snow did they get ??
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
I spoke with a guy in Western IA and he said there’s pheasants all over in the fields and close to the road. Need to get a warm up soon ! They can be tough birds—a couple 40 degree days would be helpful!
Wildturkey 2
Active Member
Yes it looks like warm up next week. But they still need food.if we get a early spring they will do ok if winter is extended late in the spring that will be really hard on them. And that’s what kills them .
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
Not sure how much NW Iowa got. We got 21” in central Iowa last week and getting 3 more today.
Next week kinda looks promising for the birds but at the same time we are supposed to get rain. Freezing temps at night is going to cause a crust on the snow that’s going to be brutal.
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Daver
PMA Member
In my experience, the birds can withstand even brutal temps and conditions like we have had for the past 8 days...provided there is some relief in the form of being able to get to food, etc, and it doesn't go on and on. BUT...an ice covering on this much snow...that is NOT GOOD, not good at all.
I remember a time way back, I think during the early '80's where we had very good numbers of birds for several years running and then the winter included a bunch of ice and the next year birds were VERY scarce, where they had been plentiful previously.
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
This warm up has to help .. anyone seeing pheasants? I think most will survive now !
CottonwoodCanyon
Well-Known Member
I was out on a farm last week a couple days after the temps got above 15 or so and the roads were fine and saw a bunch of pheasants. Granted, this farm had great native marshy cover for them but they were definitely doing fine there.
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
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Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
Awesome pics Curtis ! Need this weather to stay nice !
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
Thanks, nice weather is definitely helping them. If you go by the old wives’ tale of precipitation 90 days after fog. It’s not looking good for nesting season. But for now they are appreciating the corn and scratch grains.
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Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
In Minnesota, the weather has been very cooperative to pheasants. I’m seeing them on my cameras. Fat and healthy
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
That's awesome, wish I could get some on our farm in MO. Wonder if stocking works to get a wild pop started? Studies seem to show it does not with quail.
Snail3496
Well-Known Member
Interested in this as well. Used to have a few wild ones years ago, but haven't heard one in years. I put in 25ac of CP2 this past spring, which I think would be large enough for at least a couple to live in. Nothing yet
CottonwoodCanyon
Well-Known Member
Very similar to quail- unless chicks are raised in the wild, by a wild hen that can teach them survival instincts then they are doomed from above by raptors and at eye level by fox, bobcats, coyotes, etc. Habitat is #1, predator control is #2. Weather (especially spring nesting season) can also make or break ground nesting bird pops but we can't control that.