Peace Garden News

North Dakota’s annual roadside surveys conducted in late July and August show that pheasant numbers remain largely unchanged from last year, while gray partridge and sharp-tailed grouse populations have declined.

According to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the total number of pheasants observed was 91.6 per 100 miles, a decrease of 3% compared to last year. The number of broods per 100 miles fell by 1% to 11.4, and the average brood size dropped by 6% to 5.1 chicks. Despite these declines, the statewide count of pheasants observed per 100 miles is still nearly half above the decade-long average.

The survey summary is based on data collected from 285 runs along 100 brood routes across the state.

Regional results varied. In northwest North Dakota, observers counted fewer broods and individual pheasants than in the previous year—14.7 broods and 115 pheasants per 100 miles compared to last year's figures of 20.8 broods and 164 pheasants. The average brood size there was recorded at 4.3 chicks.

In contrast, southeastern North Dakota saw an increase with counts rising to 9.6 broods and 73 pheasants per 100 miles from last year's totals of 7.9 broods and 57 pheasants; average brood size was noted at 4.7 chicks.

Southwestern areas also experienced slight increases: statistics showed there were now about 14.8 broods and 125 pheasants per 100 miles (up from 13.8 broods and 119 pheasants). Average brood size here reached 5.8 chicks.

The northeast district, which typically has lower numbers due to less optimal habitat for pheasants, reported minor changes: this year’s count showed 4.9 broods and 37 pheasants per 100 miles versus last year’s 4.3 broods and same number of birds; average brood size stood at 4.4 chicks.

Statewide, sharp-tailed grouse counts fell sharply—down by about a third compared to both last year (38%) and the ten-year average (30%). Brood survey results for sharptails showed just over two broods per hundred miles with an average brood size of four-and-a-half.

Gray partridge numbers also decreased significantly with observations down by a quarter (26%), averaging sixteen birds seen every hundred miles surveyed; observers recorded fewer than two partridge broods each hundred-mile stretch but noted relatively large family groups averaging just over eight chicks each.

"Pheasant numbers are relatively the same as last year, while gray partridge and sharp-tailed grouse numbers were down," according to information provided by wildlife officials at the department.