2006 Montana Pheasant Hunting Season Outlook-

2006 Pheasant Montana Hunting Season Outlook
Special Montana Pheasant Hunting Regulations
Montana Pheasant Distribution Map 2006
Montana Ring-Necked Pheasant Hunting Regional Prognosis
Montana Pheasant Harvests By County
Montana Ring-necked Pheasant Field Guide
Montana Pheasant Hunting Locations
2006 Montana Pheasant Hunting Regulations (PDF Download)

2006 Pheasant Montana Hunting Season Outlook

Pheasant hunters in Montana may enjoy even better hunting than they saw last year Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials say. Bird numbers are generally improved and birds appear to be filling up prime habitat and spilling over into marginal areas.

Another in a series of mild winters in the state, followed by a spring with good precipitation, provided good food and cover for pheasants that were nesting and rearing broods.

"Statewide pheasant numbers are expected to be similar to or improved in most areas when compared to last year,” said Rick Northrup, FWP game bird coordinator. "If there is a downside, it is that the hot, dry conditions from late June through the remainder of summer may have affected chick survival in some areas."

The pheasant season in Montana is Oct. 7—Jan. 1, 2007.

In some areas, rain in early May may have caused some hens to re-nest. Pheasants are strong re-nesters if nests are destroyed during laying or prior to mid-incubation. If nest disturbances are frequent, pheasants will make multiple attempts to produce a brood. In those situations, hunters may find that young male pheasants may be hard to distinguish from hens because they will not have taken on the vibrant color that they are known for.

Northrup said he is nonetheless optimistic that pheasant production statewide is generally good despite a second round of moisture late last spring.

"Air temperatures were generally warm enough to relieve most of the potential impact of this rain on early hatches," he said.

Even in years when conditions are good, however, hunters may have to work hard. Birds tend to be more widely distributed and more difficult to find when they have good cover and food, Northrup said.

Northrup said that he likes to watch to see where hunters are having the most success during the first two weeks of the season when he is planning where to hunt. After the initial wave of hunting pressure, there can still be a lot of opportunity if there is good cover for birds.

Northrup 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.

FWP Region 7—Southeastern 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 in the form of rains and thunderstorms. Although the rain may have affected nesting at local levels, brood-rearing conditions should have been very good. Pheasant numbers in southeast Montana have been affected by prolonged drought, but production this year is expected to be an improvement compared to recent years in irrigated valleys and nearby wooded draws. There are pockets of pheasants along the Yellowstone River corridor and nearby agricultural areas.

FWP Region 6—Northeastern Montana

Hunters are likely to see good pheasant numbers. Spring crowing counts were average to above average across the region this year and biologists reported a mix of brood sizes. Pheasant numbers appear to be strong along the Milk and Missouri rivers and their larger tributaries. Hot, dry weather that followed the early peak hatch may have affected broods in dryer upland habitats. Hunting opportunities will vary depending on the location but generally look good to very good.

FWP Region 5—South Central Montana

In Billings and the surrounding area, hunters can expect better than average pheasant hunting. A relatively mild winter and some moisture in the early summer created good habitat for raising pheasant broods. FWP biologists report that pheasant populations are near the long-term average and that hunters may find hunting improved over last year.

FWP Region 4—North Central Montana

Great Falls and the surrounding area experienced a very good pheasant hunting last year, especially north of Great Falls in the Conrad area and at Freezout Wildlife Management Area. Field biologists say pheasant numbers may not be quite as good this year. Heavy precipitation around the time of peak hatch that may have affected brood survival. The Lewistown area experienced similar spring conditions and indicators suggest pheasant populations may vary noticably from area to area in the region.

FWP 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. Production was generally good. At Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area, biologists say brood numbers are about average when compared to production in recent years. Pheasant hunters are urged to obtain hunting access well in advance of any hunting they plan.

FWP Region 2—Western Montana

Missoula and the surrounding area had favorable spring conditions and bird production was good. FWP biologists in the area generally predict that pheasant hunting will be similar to that in recent years.

FWP Region 1—Northwestern Montana

Kalispell, and the surrounding area, has experienced lower than average pheasant numbers in the past few years, and this year is likely to be no exception. Small brood sizes are being observed at the Ninepipe Wildlife Management area, possibly due to ill timed spring precipitation, though nesting cover was good. Pheasant hunting in FWP Region 1 will be similar to or slightly below par when compared to last year.

In the table, the numbers in the cells represent the size of the population in 2006, using a scale of 1-10, with 10 being high. A plus sign represents an increase, a minus sign is a decrease and an equal sign means the numbers are about the same as in 2005.

Special Montana Pheasant Hunting Regulations:

• Montana Pheasant Bag Limits: 3 cock pheasants daily. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
• Means of Taking Montana Pheasants: Pheasants may be taken with a shotgun not larger than a ten gauge; a long recurve or compound bow and arrow. All other means of taking are prohibited.
• Transporting Montana Pheasants:It is unlawful to possess or transport within the state any pheasant unless one leg and foot are left naturally attached for evidence of sex. They shall remain attached until they arrive at the permanent residence of the possessor.

Montana Pheasant Distribution Map 2006

Montana Ring-Necked Pheasant Hunting Regional Prognosis

The table compares the 2006 populations with populations in 2005 and 2004. Relative population size is indicated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being high. Population status (increasing, decreasing or stable) is a comparison of the 2006 population to the 2005 population.

Montana's upland game bird hunters appear to have a favorable season of hunting ahead. A mild winter across most of the state resulted in good over-winter survival of birds and spring offered good nesting and brood rearing conditions in most of the state.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials said pheasant, grouse and hun populations in northeastern Montana are expected to be above average and elsewhere upland game bird hunting opportunities will be similar to last year's. The season for most upland game bird species begins Sept. 1.

"A generally mild winter over much of Montana and a moist spring has resulted in good winter survival and plenty of cover for rearing broods," said Rick Northrup, FWP upland and migratory bird coordinator. "Game bird populations are looking especially good in the northeastern corner of the state."

Northrup said the past several weeks of extremely dry weather could have reduced some insect populations the birds generally rely on going into fall.

"Opportunities across the state will vary, but generally speaking upland game bird hunting this fall should be a very satisfying experience for hunters," he said.

West of the Continental Divide:

Upland game bird hunting in FWP Region 1 around Kalispell is expected to be about average this year. At Ninepipe Wildlife Management Area, pheasant and hun numbers are about average. Turkey numbers in FWP Region 1 are average but access remains difficult. In FWP Region 2 turkey numbers are improved.

In the Missoula area, grouse and pheasant hunting opportunities may be slightly less favorable than last year.

Central Montana:

In the north central portion of the state, around Great Falls and Havre, adult pheasant and grouse populations were in good shape this spring, though production seemed to lag behind expectations. Hun production was also down. The drier weather at the end of June through July may have contributed to low bird production. In north central Montana, pheasant populations should provide some good hunting.

In southwest Montana, around Bozeman, sage grouse populations are slightly improved and sharptailed grouse, huns, chukars, blue grouse and pheasant populations are all expected to be only a little less plentiful than last year.

Eastern Montana:

In the Billings area, pheasant, hun, sage grouse and sharptailed grouse populations should show improvement over last year, while blue and ruffed grouse and chukar numbers may be slightly lower. Turkey numbers will be down as a result of this summer's fires.

In the Glasgow area in northeastern Montana, grouse and pheasant numbers are expected to be above average again this year, though turkey hunting may be slightly off from last year.

Near Miles City, in the southeast, turkey, grouse and pheasant hunting opportunities are looking good and hunters may find even more birds than last year in some places.

"With birds, every variable is important, including winter weather, spring precipitation, temperature, cover, and the abundance of insects. All play a role in upland game bird survival and production," Northrup said. "That is why there can be so much variability across the state and why it can be difficult to forecast populations for specific areas. Generalizations seem to be the rule."

Montana Pheasant Harvests By County