Habitat is the key for pheasants in winter and all year long.

During the coldest month of the year, January, pheasants require twice the energy they burned in October. Yet with adequate habitat, their body fat content can be at its highest in January.

Pheasant bio-energetics requires the birds have three cover types to help survive the coldest of winters. The cover types are roosting, loafing, and food cover. Winter habitat includes grass cover for roosting at night, trees and shrubs to loaf in during the day, and food.

The purpose of each is to reduce the pheasants’ vulnerability to predators, to reduce the birds’ energy requirements, and to increase the body fat content of hens for spring nesting. For each 160 acres, 5 acres should be set aside to provide each of these covers. The relationship of theses covers to each other is also important. Ideally, each cover requirement should be located next to the other, or at most, one quarter mile apart.

With the first deep snow or ice storm, people start to worry about pheasants starving. Keep in mind though, that death due to starving during inclement weather is extremely rare if they have adequate winter habitat. The importance of habitat year-round is paramount to pheasants.

The Big Spur Blog is written by Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist for North Dakota. If you have a pheasant habitat or pheasant biology question for Jesse, email him at JBeckers@pheasantsforever.org.

Pheasants prefer "Dense Nesting Cover" like that found in this North Dakota grassland. Photo by Jesse Beckers / Pheasants Forever

Here at the The Big Spur Blog I talk frequently of nesting cover and its importance to wildlife populations. This is especially important for pheasant reproduction success, even more than winter cover. Pheasants are tough birds and can survive very harsh winters with adequate cover, but nesting conditions are what ensure there will be pheasants around to survive when winter rolls in.

Hens will nest anywhere they can in the spring, but in order to make nesting efforts as successful as possible, we need to know what pheasants require. Studies have shown that 20 acre blocks of cover are ideal for nesting hens, and many grass compositions provide moderate to good cover. But the really good stuff consists of plant species that both provide vertical cover and provide a food source for the nesting hen and chicks.

We refer to this as “Dense Nesting Cover” (DNC). DNC is a great component for new CRP contracts, and can also be established with relative ease. DNC can consist of native or introduced grasses and forbs. Both native and introduced mixes consist of four species to six species.

An example of a native mixture includes green needlegrass, Canada wildrye, western wheatgrass, Illinois bundleflower and purple prairie clover.

An introduced DNC mix includes tall wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, alfalfa and sweet clover.

Native and introduced mixes are readily available at seed dealerships around the country. Generally speaking, introduced mixes are cheaper and easier to establish on your property. Both mixes have a grass component for cover, and a forb component to attract insects for a pheasant food source. Insects comprise more than 90 percent of chicks’ diet up to six weeks of age.

When planning your next pheasant habitat project, think DNC. The birds will thank you!

The Big Spur Blog is written by Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist for North Dakota. If you have a pheasant habitat or pheasant biology question for Jesse, email him at JBeckers@pheasantsforever.org.

An official pheasant brood count is one method states use to determine the overall health of the pheasant populations.

“How are the pheasants doing?” As Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist, this is the question I’m asked the most in North Dakota, and I know many other wildlife managers from other states are asked the same thing. Although this sounds like a simple inquiry, the answer can be hard to pinpoint.

Throughout the year, Pheasants Forever and wildlife agencies try to get a trend of pheasant populations. This starts in the spring with crow counts. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has pre-designated routes that employees follow each spring to determine the number of roosters they hear crowing in the morning. This data is compared each year to see if the number of roosters heard varied from previous years. This is a very non-scientific way to determine population, as it does not account for hens or chicks. However, it does show an angle to determine the number of roosters.

A more accurate measure of rooster populations is analyzing harvest data. Hunter surveys are distributed each year and harvest information is cataloged and compared to previous years. Since 2008, we have seen the number of roosters harvested decline each year in North Dakota.

Brood counts are more accurate in determining populations. Again, routes are traveled by wildlife managers to determine how many hen pheasants are seen, and numbers of chicks with each hen are counted. This is not an exact science, but again gives us a glimpse into how the pheasants are doing.

The #1 determination of how the pheasants are doing is directly correlated with the amount of habitat on the ground. Nesting cover, brood-rearing cover, and winter cover are the major determining factors when it comes to pheasant populations. Weather also plays a critical role. This has been a cold and wet spring for many states, and this can be harder on populations than a hard winter as chicks are very sensitive at this time. Across the Midwest, we are seeing losses in CRP acres, and this in turn will also effect pheasant populations.

We can’t control the weather, but we can create and enhance habitat to help the birds throughout the year. Tune in next week when I discuss nesting cover, the first of three in a series on wildlife habitat.

The Big Spur Blog is written by Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist for North Dakota. If you have a pheasant habitat or pheasant biology question for Jesse, email him at JBeckers@pheasantsforever.org.

This is also the time when hens are most vulnerable to the elements and predators. This is why Pheasants Forever puts such a big emphasis on the importance of quality nesting habitat that consists of contiguous acres of grasslands. But when those acres are not available, that hen will find anything she can to lay her eggs down for the year. In some cases, these areas can seem rather odd and leave you scratching your head as to why the spot was chosen.

I travel a lot and study pheasants on a regular basis. This is why I have to ask myself, “Why would a pheasant nest in a flower pot, or in someone’s front yard?” These are two areas that we don’t speak of too much as habitat, but in the above cases these were the only areas available for that bird to lay her eggs. These are also areas where the chances of survival will be very low.

Pheasants prefer to nest in grasslands, and as such prefer blocks of cover to protect her and her young. They will be found in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) areas, pastures, grasslands, and even in road ditches. This is why many states encourage no mowing until mid-summer when the eggs are hatched and the chicks can get away. Still, mowing ditches is a common practice that destroys thousands of eggs and pheasants per year.

How important is CRP to pheasant and wildlife populations? This graph from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department shows how pheasants responded to two different time periods: the first being Soil Bank Program years (of the late 1950s and early 1960s) and the second being our present CRP years (1985 to present):

North Dakota pheasant harvest information provided by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

The importance of grasslands in America is why Pheasants Forever advocates for them on state and national levels. Support for these efforts can be made by supporting your local Pheasants Forever chapter, and for more information on grassland programs and habitat advice, contact a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist near you!

The Big Spur Blog is written by Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist for North Dakota. If you have a pheasant habitat or pheasant biology question for Jesse, email  him at JBeckers@pheasantsforever.org.

Good thermal cover will get pheasants and other wildlife through the harshest winters

In extreme winters in the northern states, it is not uncommon to see a multitude of pheasants scratching in the snow in search of food. Our first thought may be, “those pheasants are going to starve if I don’t feed them.” But is food really the limiting factor when it comes to pheasants surviving harsh winter conditions? The answer is no.

The ultimate limiting factor for bird survival in a tough winter is quality thermal cover. A pheasant that starves to death is rare, and most will die of exposure or predators long before starvation. Corn and grains are a staple diet for wintering pheasants, but they also feed on weed seeds, berries, and just about anything they can get their beak on. So what can we do to ensure the pheasants will make it through a tough winter? Establish quality winter cover on your property.

Wetland complexes provide excellent winter cover for wildlife during the harsh winter months. It is not uncommon for wetlands to hold 75% of the wintering pheasant population. Wetlands can consist of thick cattails and shrubs, blocking snow and keeping wildlife warm. Even when cattail sloughs become drifted with snow, pheasants are effective at burrowing to get out of the cold. The north and west sides of the wetland may get drifted with snow, but in a large complex much of the wetland will stay open.

To get started in restoring and enhancing your wetlands, contact your local state or federal wildlife agency, or local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.

Trees and shrubs also provide excellent winter cover. You will often find a multitude of wildlife species around farmsteads and houses surrounded by shelterbelts. Trees and shrubs block wind, snow drifts, and provide loafing, roosting, and escape cover for pheasants. For maximum benefit, tree rows and shelterbelts must follow some basic rules.

1. Trees and shrubs should not be planted in a prairie complex. Prairies are vital as nesting and brood rearing cover in the spring, and tree rows attract predators and perches for raptors.
2. Tree and shrub plantings should consist of 15 rows at least 150 feet wide. Shrubs are planted on the outermost rows, with juniper/cedar, or blue spruce in the inner rows.
3. 5 acres per every 100 acres is sufficient winter cover to get wildlife through the worst Mother Nature can dish out.

The Big Spur Blog is written by Jesse Beckers, Pheasants Forever’s Regional Wildlife Biologist for North Dakota.

Picture of a young rooster pheasant provided by the ND Game and Fish Department

In North Dakota, some of our hunting seasons are underway. I have been out several times thus far chasing sharp-tailed grouse and doves, and thought I would share some observations as pheasant season approaches. We all know the importance of identifying your target before you shoot, and early in the season some of the game birds we are after look similar in dim daylight hours or cloudy days. For example, I took a good friend of mine out grouse hunting and he wasn’t sure the difference between a grouse and a hen pheasant, as he had never sharp-tailed before. I have known some folks (myself not included) who accidently shot a hen pheasant thinking that it was a grouse. My friend did not make this mistake and after we flushed a few coveys he could easily tell the difference.

The reason I bring up this topic is that early in the pheasant season, there are still several immature birds out there that are difficult to judge the sex and sometimes species. A hen pheasant’s first nesting attempt is not always successful, and she may need to make two or even three attempts before she is successful in raising a brood. On last year’s opener, my Lab flushed a rooster so young it actually chirped instead of cackling. It also had none of the colors of an adult rooster.

So, as you take to the field this fall, be sure to take the time to exactly identify the bird before you pull the trigger. Especially when you are taking out a new or young hunter, show them the characteristics of each bird and what they may expect as the season opens. If you are not sure, don’t pull the trigger. There is plenty of time for other opportunities and we need to be responsible hunters to show the next generation the right way to preserve the sport we love.

The Blizzard Buster Food Plot mix will provide varying levels of forage and cover for pheasants

I’m not saying planting a food plot will lead to “Shoeless” Joe Jackson walking out from the field to go hunting with you, but food plots can help wildlife through tough northern winters. As you begin to think about food plots and ordering your seed mixes for next spring’s planting, here are a few important factors to keep in mind.

1)      Nesting cover is the single biggest limiting habitat factor for pheasants across most of their range. If you don’t have quality nesting cover on your land, then spend your time focused here.

2)      Pheasant’s second biggest habitat need is brood cover. Most folks know about the need for large expanses of grass for nesting season, but brood cover is less understood by the general public. When pheasant chicks are young, they have some pretty specific needs:  a) forbs (flowers) that produce lots of insects for a chick’s diet and b) grass cover that provides concealment over the chick’s head from avian predators, but not so dense at the ground level that chicks can’t get through the understory.

3)      Food plots are beneficial to pheasants when they are planned properly. It is important to keep food plots close to winter cover to minimize predation and exposure to the birds. It’s even more beneficial to plant a food plot that doubles as thermal cover such as Pheasants Forever’s Signature Blizzard Buster mix. 

4)      Perennial food plots consist of native grasses and forbs providing different levels of vertical cover and different food sources available at different times of the year. In the spring, the forbs will attract insects that pheasant chicks depend on for a protein source. As we move through the year, seeds from the grasses and forbs will provide an additional food source. Grasses such as switchgrass, Indian grass, sideoats grama, and Canada wildrye are an excellent food source for pheasants. These are also considered bunchgrasses and provide thick, thermal cover for the birds throughout the year.

5)      Perennial food plots provide additional benefits when compared to their annual (corn, barley, rye, etc.) counterparts. They provide food and cover year-round and do not need to be replanted every year. Perennial food plots do require more weed control before, during, and after establishment but the dividends are worth it.

For questions concerning food plots and other pheasant habitat needs, contact your local Pheasants Forever Field Representative or Farm Bill Biologist.

CRP acres produce millions of pheasants and other wildlife every year.

As of Monday, there is another way for landowners and producers to implement habitat on the ground that will benefit pheasants, quail, and a wide variety of other wildlife species in North America. The new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup is now upon us for the first time in four years.  The general signup will take place from August 2^nd to August 27^th, and will rank contracts based on a variety of environmental benefits. Factors that affect the Environmental Benefit Index (EBI) are many and have been slightly tweaked since the previous general signup. The factors are as follows:

1. Wildlife Habitat Cover Benefits
2. Water Quality Benefits
3. On-Farm Benefits of Reduced Erosion
4. Enduring Benefits
5. Air Quality Benefits
6. Cost

The total points from these factors equal your EBI score. Now let’s break down how to receive maximum points for each category, starting with Wildlife Habitat Cover Benefits.

To reach the most points for this category, consider planting a mix of native grasses and forbs (flowering plants like purple coneflower, black-eyed susan, blue aster, western yarrow, etc.). You will also receive points for planting introduced grasses and forbs, but not as many as the native species. You may receive additional points for placing a water development (in water limited areas) on the property, converting a monoculture to mixed species, establishing a food plot, or planting pollinator habitat. You may only choose one of these incentives under Wildlife Habitat Cover Benefits.

You have no play in Water Quality Benefits, On-Farm Benefits of Reduced Erosion, and Air Quality Benefits as these factors depend on where your property is in your state and these are pre-determined factors.

You may gain additional points under enduring benefits by planting a minimum of eight native grasses and seven native forbs, and this expands on the Wildlife Habitat Cover Benefits for additional points as well.

Finally, you may receive an additional 25 points by offering less than the maximum payment rate as determined by the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

For additional questions, contact your local USDA office or a Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist near you.

Molting rooster. Picture courtesy of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

As a biologist with Pheasants Forever, I am asked many questions about pheasant biology and their life cycle. One question that comes up often is whether or not a pheasant molts. By molting, I mean losing current feathers and replacing them with new ones, such as ducks do every year. The answer to this question is “yes,” both hens and roosters molt every year. A rooster will molt right after the breeding season in the spring, and the hen will molt in June as she is brooding her chicks.

But I was asked a new question this spring which to be honest, I did not know the answer to. Does a rooster lose its tail feathers every year? Well after doing some research with the experts at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, I found out the answer was also “yes.” In fact, they receive calls every year from concerned landowners that their pheasants must have a disease because the roosters don’t have the distinguishable long tail feathers. Don’t be alarmed if you see this, these roosters will begin growing their tail feathers again in July and continue growing into the hunting season.

As for the chicks of spring, we can’t forget about them. After their June hatch, pheasant chicks begin growing flight feathers, and are capable of short flights at two weeks old of about 150 yards. In early July (3 to 4 weeks old), they have replaced their yellow down with feathers looking like that of the dull brown hen. All of the young roosters and hens are the same color at this time and are hard to distinguish between. At six weeks old these chicks begin a post-juvenile molt which will eventually give them their adult plumage. The molt will be completed when chicks are 17 to 18 weeks old, right in time for hunting season.

We have the grass, but where do we go from here?!?

I know we all hunt food plots and corn fields in the fall, but that is not the habitat for pheasant nesting. I don’t know of a pheasant that has been born in a corn field. Grasses with some vertical cover and preferably a forb (flower) component are where they are born.

One way to increase the amount of pheasants being produced is to implement DNC, or dense nesting cover. Dense nesting cover consists of a grass component and a forb component (this attracts the insects necessary to a pheasant chick’s diet). A DNC mix that has proved successful consists of tall wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, alfalfa, and sweetclover. This is an inexpensive way to increase the amount of pheasants produced on your property.

Another mix consists of green needlegrass, Canada wildrye, western wheatgrass, Illinois bundleflower, and purple prairie clover. This mix is a little more expensive but consists of native grasses and forbs.

Planting these areas in blocks also decreases predation, as predators usually follow the edges and lanes to hunt. As my colleague in South Dakota says, “if it is easy for me and the dog to hunt, it is easy for a predator to hunt.”

If you have questions on these mixes or would like more information on increasing wildlife on your land, drop a comment below.