PIERRE, S.D. (KELO AM) There's been a dramatic drop in South Dakota's pheasant population from last year.
The annual road side survey, conducted by State Game Official Travis Runia, shows a 45 percent decline statewide in pheasants-per-mile. It represents a 65 percent drop over the ten-year average.
"We had a pretty significant decline this year and it was not unexpected given the widespread and severe drought we experienced this year..." Runia tells KELO.COM News.
Runia also says another reason for the decline is the continued loss of pheasant habitat in South Dakota.
"The loss of nesting habitat is about equivalent to losing about 500 acres a day for the last 27 years."
South Dakota has a website called 'Habitat Pays' that has resources to help landowners provide more pheasant habitat. Here's a link:
Runia, a pheasant hunter himself, is still optimistic about the fall season, estimating that hunters might expect to bag what they did in 2013, nearly one million birds.
"I'm certainly not going to sit out this year because of a little bad news on our road side survey...my dog will not let me stay home."
South Dakota's open season, which starts October 21, draws pheasant hunters from around the world, and generates millions of dollars in economic benefits.