BISMARCK -- North Dakota pheasant numbers are down, and state wildlife officials say the harsh winter two years ago is likely the cause. However, Stark and Hettinger were among counties with the most pheasants harvested.
The spring pheasant crowing count survey showed a 6 percent drop statewide from last year.
Stan Kohn, upland game management supervisor for the state Game and Fish Department, says many adult birds did not survive the winter before last. He says the lower number of adult birds and poor chick production the following spring due to cool, wet weather hurt the state's pheasant population.
Pheasant hunters killed nearly 652,000 roosters last year, or about 125,000 fewer than in 2008.
The number of hunters decreased 18 percent to 88,400, according to the Game and Fish Department.
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Counties with the most pheasants taken by resident hunters were Hettinger, 7.6 percent; Burleigh, 7 percent; Morton, 6.6 percent; McLean, 6.2 percent; and Stark with 6 percent.
Top counties for nonresident hunters were Hettinger, 21.4 percent; Bowman, 8.1 percent; Emmons, 5.9 percent; McIntosh, 5.7 percent; and Dickey, 5.5 percent, according to the department.
Statistics are determined by a mail survey of hunters.
