Early and late November experienced two snow storms that consisted of high winds and wet snows. They both were part of what the weathermen described as disorganized remnants of a northern central states low pressure system that collected on the up side the warm gulf air deposited as highway closing snowfalls from highway 80 in Nebraska and north. On the backside of these lows came a series of widely spread wind driven snow falls that in localities laid low and then held down the tall prairie grass. The grass once laid down by the wind and snow will not concentrate the pheasants as normally is the case. It loses its great ground and aerial concealment capabilities so desired by pheasants.
November 30, 2005 Pictures 
Pheasant hunters' heartbreak of wind and snow flatten tall prairie grass. This field was prime pheasant hunting with consistently high grass averaging 4 to 5 feet surrounded by row crop fields. This field normally could be hunted for a limit throughout the season. It is extremely difficult to walk through as the grass now bent over is bowed about 12 to 18 inches high and the snow is crusted from overnight lows. Pheasants easily run along on top of the snow and flush 50 to 100 yards to the front not allowing any dog work. The dogs as well as the hunter easily broke through the snow's crust adding to the difficulty of the walk. 
Not all is lost. The snow fall was highly localized in the NC, NW and SC Kansas. Within 10 miles of the snow covered grass above we crossed the snowline and was back into prime pheasant habitat. 
A November 30 retrieve from one of the lesser snowfall area fields. One of three bagged from that field. |
What this snow has done is that while Kansas pheasant numbers are as high as anticipated in the early summer forecast the harvest rates will be lower as the easier to hunt tall grass pheasants will be more difficult to find and hunt in other habitat types.
Iowa and Missouri pheasant numbers while up compared to last year proved not to be as high as Kansas.
Bobwhite Quail
Quail numbers in southern Iowa and from the north Missouri Stateline to the highway 70 and Missouri River areas are better than expected. Consistent hunter reports from those with past performance within these regions show the best of the available quail hunting to be in this region.
Kansas quail hunting proves to be different. The anticipated high numbers in the north central region failed to materialize. This is an inverse relationship to the increased pheasant numbers in the same area. The south-central region appears to be having its best quail season in memory. Southeast Kansas while depressed has had reports from those dedicated to this area as not being the doomsday level forecasted. While quail hunting is still on the tough side those with the high power dogs report acceptable covey finds. The same hunters readily admit that "great" days are fewer in this region.
The last region without a report other than for pheasants is NW Kansas as none of the regular quail hunters have reported yet having hunted that area.
Summary
The birds are there for the hunting and we really have little room for complaints. That is also in great contracts to our Huron South Dakota friends that found their season coming to an earlier close than average with very cold temperatures and a lot of snow.
2005 Upland Bird Forecast
End of season review
