| The ring-necked pheasant has its origin in Asia, | | | | not correct for that particular year, or spring |
| but somehow found its way to the shores of | | | | hatching has gone off course. Even if lesser |
| North America in 1881! They continued to flourish | | | | numbers are reported, they generally have no |
| in this continent too. In 1990, a person named | | | | impact upon Iowa pheasant hunting. |
| William Benton decided to breed these birds in his | | | | Why does Iowa pheasant hunting promise a rich |
| pens at Cedar Falls. Unfortunately, a storm | | | | haul? |
| destroyed his pens one day and nearly 2,000 | | | | Iowa is covered with croplands and |
| ring-necked pheasants escaped. While roaming in | | | | grasslands--ideal pheasant habitat. Thegrasslands |
| the wild, the birds spread across the state of | | | | controlled by the Conservation Reserve Program |
| Iowa. An opportunity for Iowa pheasant hunting | | | | are large tracts of land, where pheasants love to |
| was therefore created! | | | | hide from predators. Other domains protecting |
| Thanks to the efforts of the Iowa Department | | | | pheasants are thorny brush, and cornfields with |
| of Natural Resources (IDNR), which decided to | | | | wide and grassy draws. Can anyone going in for |
| stock the birds from 1910 onwards, Iowa | | | | Iowa pheasant hunting ask for more? |
| pheasant hunting has gained in popularity! In fact, | | | | The best hunting opportunities are to be found in |
| Iowa has been referred to as the "pheasant | | | | north-central Iowa. Again, it is the IDNR which has |
| hunting capitol of the US". The state economy has | | | | made this possible. Efforts have been put in for |
| also received a great boost because of this | | | | both, public, as well as private lands. They have |
| activity. | | | | gone all out to create an improved habitat with |
| Even today, the IDNR takes time off in the | | | | grain crops, native grasses and wildflowers. |
| month of August (first two weeks), to conduct | | | | Almost ideal conditions can be seen on the |
| its annual roadside survey. The survey, of course, | | | | acreage owned by the Conservation Reserve |
| deals with the existing Iowa pheasant's population. | | | | Program. |
| The mornings during the month of August are | | | | Private landowners have unfortunately not been |
| cool and sunny, but there is heavy dew too. The | | | | cooperating much with government officials. |
| young chicks are brought to the roadside by the | | | | Farmers are more interested in expanding their |
| hen mothers, for the purpose of drying off. The | | | | fields than in preserving pheasant habitats. In fact, |
| feeding begins after this process. Biologists and | | | | they are even taking over existing habitats and |
| conservation officers take a count of the birds at | | | | lands for their own purposes! Thus, the pheasant |
| this time (how many broods and the size of each | | | | population is decreasing. |
| one), while they are traveling on the gravel roads | | | | Despite all the efforts of the IDNR, external |
| (6,300 miles). | | | | factors are creating more obstacles than they |
| When information about the pheasants as well as | | | | can handle. New agricultural practices are |
| various wildlife species has been gathered | | | | destroying natural habitat. So also the raising of |
| together, a small-sized game distribution map is | | | | commercial and residential complexes on more |
| produced. Yes, the numbers need not be | | | | and more land. Thus, the future of Iowa pheasant |
| absolutely correct always; there could be some | | | | hunting hangs in the balance! |
| discrepancies. Maybe the timing of the survey is | | | | |