Pheasant hunting is one of Iowa’s biggest economic drivers among outdoor pursuits. But the pheasant population is rebuilding after years of poor nesting conditions and disappearing habitat cut the $200 million annual economic impact by more than half, and left hunters struggling to collectively bag 100,000 birds a season when they used to shoot a million.

However, this winter’s lower-than-average snowfall in most of Iowa continues a string of promising conditions for boosting the pheasant population, reports the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ resident pheasant expert, biologist Todd Bogenschutz.

“We had a good winter and should have had good pheasant and quail survival,” Bogenschutz said. “Every region in the state was below normal for snowfall, except the east central region and it was only one-inch above normal, so we should be poised for an increase in bird numbers as long as we have a good nesting season,” Bogenschutz said in a statement. “It will be interesting to see the August roadside survey results.”

A jump in the pheasant population in turn likely would mean more sales of gasoline, motel rooms, ammunition, restaurant meals and other items.

Landowners can help Iowa return to pheasant-hunting prominence by planting shelterbelts and food plots, both of which increase the odds pheasants will survive, Bogenschutz said. The DNR has information on what to plant. Read more