Post by ridge on Oct 7, 2020 15:35:53 GMT -5
Pheasant endorsement reminder
Pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse hunters (except those hunting pheasants only on hunting preserves) will need a free pheasant/sharp-tailed grouse endorsement on their hunting license.
Buy your base license and get your pheasant endorsement online at eLicense or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.
Pheasant seasons
Pheasant (male only) seasons:
Zone 1*: Oct. 10-31.
Zone 2 and 3: Oct. 20-Nov. 14.
Zone 3*: Dec. 1-Jan. 1.
The daily bag limit is two birds.
*For Zone 1 and Zone 3 pheasant management unit information, please see page 55 of the 2020 Hunting Digest.
See Michigan.gov/Hunting for small game hunting information and the 2020 Hunting Digest for regulations and bag limits.
Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative pheasant releases canceled
In 2019, the Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 618, which appropriated $260,000 from the state's General Fund to the DNR for a pheasant release program during fall 2019 and 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated budget reductions, no Pheasant Hunting Initiative pheasant releases will take place during the fall 2020 hunting season.
Pheasant forecast
Due to COVID-19, DNR staff time and budget were restricted this spring and summer and as a result, staff had limited time in the field to observe birds or scope out the field conditions. Despite these limitations, staffers are feeling optimistic about this year’s pheasant population.
“Summer brood-rearing conditions were optimal throughout the summer,” said Al Stewart, upland game bird specialist. “Insect populations were abundant for young chicks to pursue, and there was sufficient rainfall and moderate temperatures to maintain good vegetation for cover. Hunters can expect pheasant numbers to be slightly up from last year and about average compared to the past ten years.”
Upper Peninsula
The growing season in the Upper Peninsula was productive this year. Agricultural farms planted more corn and soybeans than in previous years, and natural hard and soft mast production has been average to above average, providing abundant food sources for all wildlife.
The DNR and the Menominee County Pheasant Club partner to provide public-land pheasant hunting opportunities in the Upper Peninsula region. The DNR manages the Berg Farm, a 160-acre parcel in Menominee County, to create quality pheasant hunts that are accessible to everyone. Additionally, the Menominee County Pheasant Club owns an 80-acre property near Stephenson in Menominee County that is stocked and open for public access. The Menominee County Pheasant Club hosts fundraisers throughout the year to purchase and stock pheasants on the Berg Farm and private lands in the area. Due to financial restrictions and reductions in funds raised, there will be fewer birds released in 2020.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
The winter brought a few large snowfalls to the southwest region, but temperatures and conditions were mostly mild and neutral for the pheasant population. Standing crops, switchgrass and sorghum were left standing in several areas, providing excellent winter cover for birds.
At the Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area, spring and summer nesting and brood-rearing conditions were excellent. This area did not experience the heavy rains that most of the region did, and broods were observed in parts of the game area. Other areas within the region experienced heavy rains and some flooding in the spring, likely impacting the nesting season. Despite the wet spring, roosters were heard crowing at several state game areas during the spring and early summer months.
Overall, the nesting and brooding seasons were not exceptionally hot or wet and there was an abundance of insects for chicks to feed on. Hunters can anticipate pheasant populations in the region to be similar to last year.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
The southeastern portion of the Lower Peninsula had a mild winter as well. Some areas experienced drier conditions than in previous years, while several other areas, especially in the Saginaw Bay region, experienced wet, heavy rainfalls in the spring that prevented crop planting and saturated the grounds. While this may have initially impacted nesting habitat, the unplanted fields left dormant with grasses and alfalfa during the primary nesting season provided excellent brood-rearing cover later in the summer. Generally, food and cover were prevalent throughout the area, with warmer, slightly drier summer conditions. Based on observations of high winter survival and good numbers of broods, hunters can anticipate this year’s pheasant populations to be the same as last year.
Adopt-a-Game Area program
Due to a decline in grassland habitat, grassland wildlife species are in peril and need your help. The Adopt-a-Game-Area program allows you to sponsor habitat projects on state lands that you use and enjoy. Your support will provide valuable nesting, brood-rearing, foraging and winter habitat for a wide range of wildlife including deer, turkeys, pheasants, ducks, cottontail rabbits, songbirds, and pollinators.
Learn more about the program and public lands you can support at Michigan.gov/Pheasant.
Pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse hunters (except those hunting pheasants only on hunting preserves) will need a free pheasant/sharp-tailed grouse endorsement on their hunting license.
Buy your base license and get your pheasant endorsement online at eLicense or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.
Pheasant seasons
Pheasant (male only) seasons:
Zone 1*: Oct. 10-31.
Zone 2 and 3: Oct. 20-Nov. 14.
Zone 3*: Dec. 1-Jan. 1.
The daily bag limit is two birds.
*For Zone 1 and Zone 3 pheasant management unit information, please see page 55 of the 2020 Hunting Digest.
See Michigan.gov/Hunting for small game hunting information and the 2020 Hunting Digest for regulations and bag limits.
Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative pheasant releases canceled
In 2019, the Michigan Legislature passed Public Act 618, which appropriated $260,000 from the state's General Fund to the DNR for a pheasant release program during fall 2019 and 2020. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated budget reductions, no Pheasant Hunting Initiative pheasant releases will take place during the fall 2020 hunting season.
Pheasant forecast
Due to COVID-19, DNR staff time and budget were restricted this spring and summer and as a result, staff had limited time in the field to observe birds or scope out the field conditions. Despite these limitations, staffers are feeling optimistic about this year’s pheasant population.
“Summer brood-rearing conditions were optimal throughout the summer,” said Al Stewart, upland game bird specialist. “Insect populations were abundant for young chicks to pursue, and there was sufficient rainfall and moderate temperatures to maintain good vegetation for cover. Hunters can expect pheasant numbers to be slightly up from last year and about average compared to the past ten years.”
Upper Peninsula
The growing season in the Upper Peninsula was productive this year. Agricultural farms planted more corn and soybeans than in previous years, and natural hard and soft mast production has been average to above average, providing abundant food sources for all wildlife.
The DNR and the Menominee County Pheasant Club partner to provide public-land pheasant hunting opportunities in the Upper Peninsula region. The DNR manages the Berg Farm, a 160-acre parcel in Menominee County, to create quality pheasant hunts that are accessible to everyone. Additionally, the Menominee County Pheasant Club owns an 80-acre property near Stephenson in Menominee County that is stocked and open for public access. The Menominee County Pheasant Club hosts fundraisers throughout the year to purchase and stock pheasants on the Berg Farm and private lands in the area. Due to financial restrictions and reductions in funds raised, there will be fewer birds released in 2020.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
The winter brought a few large snowfalls to the southwest region, but temperatures and conditions were mostly mild and neutral for the pheasant population. Standing crops, switchgrass and sorghum were left standing in several areas, providing excellent winter cover for birds.
At the Fennville Farm Unit of the Allegan State Game Area, spring and summer nesting and brood-rearing conditions were excellent. This area did not experience the heavy rains that most of the region did, and broods were observed in parts of the game area. Other areas within the region experienced heavy rains and some flooding in the spring, likely impacting the nesting season. Despite the wet spring, roosters were heard crowing at several state game areas during the spring and early summer months.
Overall, the nesting and brooding seasons were not exceptionally hot or wet and there was an abundance of insects for chicks to feed on. Hunters can anticipate pheasant populations in the region to be similar to last year.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
The southeastern portion of the Lower Peninsula had a mild winter as well. Some areas experienced drier conditions than in previous years, while several other areas, especially in the Saginaw Bay region, experienced wet, heavy rainfalls in the spring that prevented crop planting and saturated the grounds. While this may have initially impacted nesting habitat, the unplanted fields left dormant with grasses and alfalfa during the primary nesting season provided excellent brood-rearing cover later in the summer. Generally, food and cover were prevalent throughout the area, with warmer, slightly drier summer conditions. Based on observations of high winter survival and good numbers of broods, hunters can anticipate this year’s pheasant populations to be the same as last year.
Adopt-a-Game Area program
Due to a decline in grassland habitat, grassland wildlife species are in peril and need your help. The Adopt-a-Game-Area program allows you to sponsor habitat projects on state lands that you use and enjoy. Your support will provide valuable nesting, brood-rearing, foraging and winter habitat for a wide range of wildlife including deer, turkeys, pheasants, ducks, cottontail rabbits, songbirds, and pollinators.
Learn more about the program and public lands you can support at Michigan.gov/Pheasant.