Bird Numbers Down, But Good Hunting Expected

Thousands of pheasants hunters will be setting out tomorrow  for the opening day of South Dakota’s 2011 pheasant hunting season.  Roadside surveys done by Game, Fish and Parks this summer shows birds might be a bit harder to come by this year.  Statewide, the annual brood survey showed a 46-percent decrease in the Pheasants Per Mile Index.  Regional Wildlife Manager Scott Lindgren says last winter didn’t help the numbers…..

[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/10/LINDGREN1.mp3|titles=LINDGREN1]

And the nesting season didn’t go well either….

[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/10/LINDGREN2.mp3|titles=LINDGREN2]

Lindgren says it’s not all doom and gloom….….

[audio:http://prprt.itmwpb.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/688/2011/10/LINDGREN3.mp3|titles=LINDGREN3]

The pheasant season opens at noon Saturday. The season runs thru January 1st.