Photo: Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(Undated) -- Iowa Department of Natural Resources staffers are now driving 6,000 miles of rural, gravel roads counting pheasants. The D-N-R is predicting a good pheasant hunting season this fall, based on snowfall, rainfall, and temperatures from the past winter and spring.
The statewide survey is conducted by Iowa DNR staff between Aug. 1-15, who drive 218, 30-mile routes on gravel roads at dawn on mornings with heavy dew. Hen pheasants will move their broods to the edge of the gravel road to dry off before they begin feeding, which makes them easier to count.
The August roadside survey has been conducted over the same routes since 1962. In addition to pheasants and quail, the survey collects data on partridge, cottontails and jackrabbits. Results will be posted online at www.iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey in early September. The pheasant hunting season begins October 28th.