Well, here in NW Iowa, only 100-150 mi east of central SD-Pheasant Central-all I can say I've seen more birds this spring and summer than last year...by far. We had the same winter as Nighthawk described-little snow but fairly brutally cold weather. Still pheasants can tolerate cold if they have decent cover (absent in NW Iowa) and a modicum of food. Cover is the key. SD has it.
If only SD wasn't so NR unfriendly, but then that's capitalism.
