PHEASANT HUNTING FORECAST 2023: NEBRASKA
TIMELY MOISTURE HELPS CORNHUSKER PHEASANTS
By Jenny Prenosil
As the days cool, dove season kicks off and prairie grouse hunting begins, it is time to start thinking about pheasant season in Nebraska. We can bet you and your pup are antsy counting down for Nebraska’s pheasant hunting season running October 28, 2023 – January 31, 2024. It’s also time to put a reminder in your phone for the youth season opener on Oct 21, 2023, to encourage the next generation of hunters to share in the passion.
HABITAT CONDITIONS
In Nebraska, pheasant numbers respond favorably to acres enrolled in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Although they are readily found in almost any grassy field, taking a look at what is going on with CRP in an area is a good hint of habitat conditions.
According to Byran O’Conner, Upland Bird Program Manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC), March and April were dry, resulting in poor habitat conditions to start. Widespread rains began to pick up during the nesting season. These rains eased the two-year drought much of Nebraska was experiencing, particularly in the central and western parts of the state. This bodes well for habitat going into the fall, as the rains promoted plant growth providing cover.
The additional rains also seemed to have boosted brood-rearing cover. “Brood cover looks great statewide, lots of forbs and insects” states O’Conner. The stress of previous years’ drought allowed for a flush of forbs and wildflowers attracting insects, an important food source for pheasant chicks.
Portions of eastern Nebraska remain in drought conditions, resulting in approved emergency haying or grazing on CRP fields, according to PF Farm Bill Biologist Rob van Leishout located in northeastern Nebraska. Shots of growing season rains allowed for regrowth on many of those sites, resulting in a mosaic of habitat height and structure. Diversity in habitat allows a field to better provide the various covers needed for all the life stages of a pheasant throughout the year.
Although habitat conditions in Nebraska seem to be better overall compared to previous years, emergency haying and grazing was still authorized in many counties due to the early dry conditions. Be sure to scout ahead of opening day to check if your target areas were one of your favorite fields was hayed or grazed this year.
PHEASANT NUMBERS
Last winter, Nebraska did see above average snowfall in much of the state. The snowfall did appear to be localized and not widespread, and so its impact on pheasants is probably variable across the landscape. The good news? The summer rains came at a good time for nesting and brood-rearing. Hens should have good success in raising broods.
Pheasant Forever’s Senior Farm Bill Biologist John McClinton, located in southeast Nebraska, echoes O’Conner’s assessment of habitat conditions. “It was a good year for native grass growth,” McClinton says, “and we didn’t have cold wet rains early. This should have been good for pheasant numbers”.
Southwest Nebraska always comes to mind for Nebraska pheasant hunters to hit up at least once per season. O’Conner emphasizes that this part of the state is in a rebounding stage. Drought over the last two years was harsh on habitat, it may take a few seasons for hunters to notice an increase in bird numbers.
According to NGPC’s July Mail Carrier Survey, pheasant age ratios were lower in all regions except the central and southeast. Pheasant abundance this fall will largely depend on summer production. You can read the full mail carrier surveys here:
» Nebraska Game & Parks Commission: Wildlife surveys
ACCESS
Nebraska has 346,027 acres enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters Program, in addition to many other public lands available. Be sure to grab the latest copy of the Public Access Atlas prior to heading into the field. There were many updates, including losing some fields but gaining new fields elsewhere.
Nebraska also publishes a Stubble Guide, which shows fields of wheat stubble available for public access. This is a separate publication that comes out after Public Access Atlas. Nebraska’s atlas can also be accessed online here.
“Our access sites are actually looking pretty decent, with a mosaic of habitat structure from late summer regrowth” says Rob van Leishout of northeastern Nebraska.
HUNTING TIPS
One very important tip for hunters going into this fall is to get your hunting permit well ahead of opening day. Nebraska Game and Parks updated their website for purchasing permits in January of 2023. If you haven’t checked it out already, it can be a little bit confusing navigating it the first time. As with all changes, it’ll be a no brainer after you’ve been on once or twice.
Rob van Leishout has one more tip for hunters chasing Nebraska roosters: “The larger access blocks historically receive plenty of upland hunter traffic. To mitigate public pressure, your hunting options may be looking to weedy field buffers, unfarmable sloughs, or standing crop stubble.”
Before you head out on your Nebraska adventure, take advantage of all the tools available to you. If you are able, scout ahead of time and converse with locals. At the very least grab the latest Public Access Atlas and consider trying new and overlooked areas. If you decide to target areas with the higher pheasant age ratios such as southeastern parts of the state, be ready to take advantage of a mixed bag. Anywhere there is cover, you can find a bonus covey of quail. Your tired dog at the end of the day will thank you for that!