Home Forums Birds & Dogs Upland Game Across the West?

Lots of the pheasant belt east of here is in a general drought right now at the time when the grasses and crops need to do their growing if they're going to at all. Rain in August won't do much for the grass or crops. A shortage of rain then in turn will make for a shortage of feed which, perceived or real, will cause farmers and ranchers to hay and graze places they might not have to otherwise. So in the face of that reality, a general rain over the pheasant belt causing cover and forage to grow is a major lift for pheasants.

Saw a brood this am sitting on the edge of a gravel road getting out of the wet grass. They were about the size of mourning doves.

Awesome I haven't seen any yet

Might report that I've seen more cottontail rabbits in this area than in quite a while They're not upland birds, but in my experience they survive winters pretty much like similar-sized upland birds, though the "hatch" is more variable.... In general, good bunny years have been good upland years.

John, we’ve noticed this in our neighborhood also, but Mr. McGregor, my neighbor is convinced that his garden recruits rabbits within a five mile radius. 😉

I hope your theory is the one in play here.

I've never thought of that but I can see it.

Cover should be better than the last couple years, some good areas were super thin with no rain last year.

Good explanation of your comment. I hadn't heard about drought needing relief in SD until this weekend and your report. In contrast most of Montana has been wet and more wet. Plentywood to Miles City are seeing roosters courting hens again, and Hun pairs without chicks in the roads, suggesting first nest or brood failure.

George,

Now that's funny!

But the bunnies I've seen haven't been in gardens.

John

Lots of rain in the last ten days. My brother in law has gotten ten inches in ten days. Causes problems of its own but lack of cover is always a concern. We should be in good shape going forward.