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Joined: Jan 2003
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Huge general rain across the pheasant belt today. Major lift for pheasants I'd think. Curious- why would a "huge general rain" at peak of first hatch be a major lift for pheasants? 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.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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Joined: Jun 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2009
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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.
"I was born in the log cabin I helped my grandfather build"
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,827 |
Awesome I haven't seen any yet
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
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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.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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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.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I've never thought of that but I can see it.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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Campfire Regular
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Cover should be better than the last couple years, some good areas were super thin with no rain last year.
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971 |
Huge general rain across the pheasant belt today. Major lift for pheasants I'd think. Curious- why would a "huge general rain" at peak of first hatch be a major lift for pheasants? 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. 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.
Last edited by GrouseChaser; 07/04/23.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
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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. George, Now that's funny! But the bunnies I've seen haven't been in gardens. John
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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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.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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