| Agriculture in Nebraska and the ring-necked | | | | to farmers. By 1969, all contracts had come to an |
| pheasant have formed a closely-linked relationship, | | | | end. To add to the misery, the farmers decided |
| starting from 1958. The birds have led the | | | | to bring about a change in farming practices yet |
| hunters interested in Nebraska pheasant hunting a | | | | again. The previous acreage and old farmsteads |
| merry dance, and they have had a rather difficult | | | | were destroyed to create more land for |
| time keeping up with them over the years! | | | | agriculture. The destruction involved the center |
| Those were the peak years for Nebraska | | | | pivot, that is , the brushy thickets and shelter |
| pheasant hunting--between 1958 and 1966. The | | | | belts. |
| hunting seasons were the lengthiest among all the | | | | As compared to the period between 1960 to |
| states and the bag limits were substantial. Some | | | | 1967, when there were 12.5 pheasants/100 miles, |
| areas promised plenty of game as well. | | | | the numbers came down to 2.2/100 miles after |
| It was during the same period that the Soil Bank | | | | 20 years. Nebraska pheasant hunting therefore |
| was launched. This land-idling program aimed to | | | | came to a standstill. |
| reduce production and bring down oversupply of | | | | Another attempt was made in 1985 to improve |
| grain. This was in contrast to the farming | | | | matters. The Farm Bill passed during that year |
| practices after the war that had aimed at | | | | launched the Conservation Reserve Program |
| increasing production. Hence, those habitats which | | | | (CRP), something similar to the Soil Bank program. |
| had been lost and were on the verge of | | | | The central theme was the same--reduce grain |
| disappearing, were quickly restored. Since the | | | | surpluses that had resulted because of earlier |
| pheasants got back their homes, they flourished! | | | | agricultural practices and help in conservation. |
| And Nebraska pheasant hunting picked up! | | | | Some improvement did come about because of |
| The boom continued in the early 1960s too, since | | | | the CRP. Countries that associated with the CRP |
| the Soil Bank had succeeded in restoring the | | | | found their pheasant numbers increasing. Rural Mail |
| prime habitats of these birds, measuring 876,000 | | | | Carrier Surveys showed that the birds had |
| acres. It had not been possible to create this sort | | | | doubled their numbers and so had other wildlife, |
| of a habitat on land meant for agriculture. Local | | | | but the increase was not as significant as |
| economies received a boost with the large | | | | everyone had expected. |
| numbers of non-local hunters who poured into the | | | | As soon as the CRP brought about a change in |
| state! | | | | some locations, Nebraska pheasant hunting |
| This happy state ended in 1966, when these | | | | showed signs of picking up again. Of course, the |
| habitats captured by the Soil Bank were returned | | | | glory of the olden days was missing! |