Montana 2005 Pheasant Season Outlook

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2005 Pheasant Season Outlook

Pheasant hunting opportunities in the state are 

expected to be good, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks 

officials said. A mild winter and plenty of spring 

moisture resulted in excellent cover over most of the 

state and the young broods appeared to benefit.

"Statewide pheasant numbers should be good with 

some improvement over last year in most areas. We 

are also seeing signs of recovery in northeastern 

Montana where pheasant populations hit a low 

following the harsh winter of 2003-2004," said Rick 

Northrup, FWP game bird coordinator. 

The pheasant season will run Oct. 8-Jan. 1, 2006. 

Northrup said the number of birds produced in the 

spring of the year is the single most important 

indicator of how plentiful birds will be that fall. 

Productivity in general in Montana this year was 

good. 

Ironically, in years with good cover and food, hunters 

may find that though the pheasants are more 

numerous they are more widely distributed and may 

be more difficult to find. 

Northrup suggested that Wildlife Management Areas 

that are heavily hunted the first weekend of pheasant 

season may offer some good late season hunting 

opportunities as use tapers off. 

He also reminded bird hunters to arrange well in 

advance for hunting access to private lands, and if 

possible to bring along a well-trained hunting dog. 

Here is a brief overview-of pheasant hunting 

opportunities around the State. 

Region 7

Eastern Montana 

In the Miles City area the upland game bird 

population is expected to be fair to good. In general, 

southeastern Montana enjoyed good spring 

precipitation and favorable nesting and 

brood-rearing conditions. Production was generally 

good. Pheasant hunters may experience a slight 

improvement in hunting opportunities as compared 

to the previous pheasant-hunting season. 

Region 6

Northeastern Montana 

Hunters are likely to see good pheasant numbers, 

but not the high numbers of the late 1980's or early 

1990's. Spring crowing counts were average to 

above average across the region and biologists 

reported good brood numbers in the better habitats. 

Pheasant numbers appear to be strong along the 

Milk and Missouri rivers and their larger tributaries. 

Heavy rains may have impacted some first nesting 

attempts. Some large, isolated hailstorms may have 

reduced brood survival in some areas. Hunting 

opportunities will vary depending on the location. 

Region 5

Central Montana 

Billings and the surrounding area experienced a 

relatively mild winter and good moisture in the early 

summer that created good habitat for raising 

pheasant broods. FWP biologists report that 

pheasant populations are near the long-term 

average and pheasant hunting is expected to be 

better than last year. 

Region 4

North Central Montana 

Great Falls and the surrounding area experienced a 

relatively good year for pheasants, especially north of 

Great Falls in the Conrad area and at Freezout 

Wildlife Management Area where pheasant 

production appears to have been good. 

Region 3

Southwestern Montana 

Pheasant hunters in Bozeman and the surrounding 

area can expect to see pheasant hunting that is 

comparable to or slightly better than what they 

experienced last year. At Canyon Ferry Wildlife 

Management Area, biologists say brood numbers 

are comparable to those in recent years. 

Region 2

Western Montana 

Missoula and the surrounding area, has limited 

pheasant habitat and populations that have been 

negatively impacted by the past dry years. This year, 

spring conditions were mild and improved 

precipitation increased cover and feed. Pheasant 

hunting is expected to be similar to what bird hunters 

experienced in 2004. 

Region 1

Northwestern Montana

Kalispell, and the surrounding area, has 

experienced chronically low pheasant numbers in 

the past several years, though this year's growing 

conditions may have helped increase brood survival. 

At the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area, 

biologists report good nesting cover and good brood 

survival. Hunters can expect to see pheasant 

populations that are similar to or slightly more 

plentiful than last year. 

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TasunkaWitko Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator aka The Gipper Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Chinook Montana Status: Offline Points: 14753	Post Options Post Reply Quote TasunkaWitko Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Montana 2005 Pheasant Season Outlook Posted: 19 September 2005 at 10:32
	2005 Pheasant Season Outlook Pheasant hunting opportunities in the state are expected to be good, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials said. A mild winter and plenty of spring moisture resulted in excellent cover over most of the state and the young broods appeared to benefit. "Statewide pheasant numbers should be good with some improvement over last year in most areas. We are also seeing signs of recovery in northeastern Montana where pheasant populations hit a low following the harsh winter of 2003-2004," said Rick Northrup, FWP game bird coordinator. The pheasant season will run Oct. 8-Jan. 1, 2006. Northrup said the number of birds produced in the spring of the year is the single most important indicator of how plentiful birds will be that fall. Productivity in general in Montana this year was good. Ironically, in years with good cover and food, hunters may find that though the pheasants are more numerous they are more widely distributed and may be more difficult to find. Northrup suggested that Wildlife Management Areas that are heavily hunted the first weekend of pheasant season may offer some good late season hunting opportunities as use tapers off. He also reminded bird hunters to arrange well in advance for hunting access to private lands, and if possible to bring along a well-trained hunting dog. Here is a brief overview-of pheasant hunting opportunities around the State. Region 7 Eastern Montana In the Miles City area the upland game bird population is expected to be fair to good. In general, southeastern Montana enjoyed good spring precipitation and favorable nesting and brood-rearing conditions. Production was generally good. Pheasant hunters may experience a slight improvement in hunting opportunities as compared to the previous pheasant-hunting season. Region 6 Northeastern Montana Hunters are likely to see good pheasant numbers, but not the high numbers of the late 1980's or early 1990's. Spring crowing counts were average to above average across the region and biologists reported good brood numbers in the better habitats. Pheasant numbers appear to be strong along the Milk and Missouri rivers and their larger tributaries. Heavy rains may have impacted some first nesting attempts. Some large, isolated hailstorms may have reduced brood survival in some areas. Hunting opportunities will vary depending on the location. Region 5 Central Montana Billings and the surrounding area experienced a relatively mild winter and good moisture in the early summer that created good habitat for raising pheasant broods. FWP biologists report that pheasant populations are near the long-term average and pheasant hunting is expected to be better than last year. Region 4 North Central Montana Great Falls and the surrounding area experienced a relatively good year for pheasants, especially north of Great Falls in the Conrad area and at Freezout Wildlife Management Area where pheasant production appears to have been good. Region 3 Southwestern Montana Pheasant hunters in Bozeman and the surrounding area can expect to see pheasant hunting that is comparable to or slightly better than what they experienced last year. At Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area, biologists say brood numbers are comparable to those in recent years. Region 2 Western Montana Missoula and the surrounding area, has limited pheasant habitat and populations that have been negatively impacted by the past dry years. This year, spring conditions were mild and improved precipitation increased cover and feed. Pheasant hunting is expected to be similar to what bird hunters experienced in 2004. Region 1 Northwestern Montana Kalispell, and the surrounding area, has experienced chronically low pheasant numbers in the past several years, though this year's growing conditions may have helped increase brood survival. At the Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area, biologists report good nesting cover and good brood survival. Hunters can expect to see pheasant populations that are similar to or slightly more plentiful than last year.
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