South Dakota Drought Conditions Affect Pheasant Population.
PIERRE, S.D.
(AP) — South Dakota drought conditions will be affecting more than just farmers and ranchers this fall: Hunters will also likely be affected.
Travis Runia, senior upland game biologist for the Game, Fish and Parks Department, said the Mobridge area, which dealt with heavy winter snows, is bearing the brunt of the drought.
The counties in the Missouri River valley now have South Dakota’s highest pheasant production.
Runia said providing good foundations for habitats could help pheasants to nest and raise broods.
The brood-plot program gives landowners seeds for flowering plants that are used for wildlife food plots.
The plants provide a canopy for pheasant chicks to take shelter in and a place where the chicks can find insects.
The insects are very important to the pheasant population.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.