Pheasant stamp required of all hunters this year
Pheasant stocking to increase this fall
MADISON -- Hunters heading out to Wisconsin’s fields in search of ring-necked pheasants this fall should note that beginning this year a pheasant stamp is required to hunt pheasants statewide. Previously the stamp was only required to hunt within specific pheasant management zones.
Sixty percent of the funds generated through the sale of the pheasant stamp are directed to the State Game Farm to support the pheasant stocking program and the day-old-chick program while the other 40 percent goes to managing habitat for wild pheasant populations throughout the state.
This fall Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologists plan to stock 70 public hunting grounds with approximately 58,000 game farm pheasants. This is an increase from 2006 when 52,000 game farm pheasants were stocked on 70 public hunting grounds.
People can check the pheasant page of the DNR Web site for a 2007 Pheasant Stocking Information Sheet identifying public hunting grounds slated for pheasant stocking. Stocked public hunting grounds are primarily located in the southern part of the state. Hunters should also carefully verify which public hunting grounds have a 2 p.m. closure and/or allow hen pheasant hunting.
Results from the 2007 pheasant survey indicate a 22 percent increase in the number of pheasants observed by rural mail carriers per 100 miles driven. A spring crowing count survey indicated only a slight decrease of 6 percent in the statewide average of roosters per square mile.
“Generally, given the survey information we have received, it appears that the population has shown little change over the past few years despite year to year fluctuations,” says Sharon Fandel, assistant DNR upland wildlife ecologist, “With a fairly stable pheasant population, hunters can expect a great fall pheasant season.”
However, pheasant numbers have increased dramatically over the past five years or so in some northern counties, including in Polk, Burnett, and to a lesser extent, Barron and southern Washburn, according to Paul Kooiker, DNR wildlife biologist at Grantsburg.
“This is probably a result of recent mild winters, along with lots of grassland and wetland habitat improvements in the region,” he says.
Also new this year, the pheasant hunting regulations are included in the 2007 Wisconsin Small Game Hunting Regulations. In previous years, the pheasant regulations had been published separately.
The 2007 pheasant hunting opens statewide on Oct. 20 at noon and closes on Dec. 31. From Oct. 20-21, the daily bag limit is one cock and possession limit is two. For the remainder of the season the daily bag limit is two cocks and the possession limit is four. Some public hunting grounds have both hen and cock pheasant hunting (requires free permits and tags) and/or 2 p.m. closure times.
See the 2007 Small Game Hunting Regulations available on the hunting and trapping regulations page for additional details or visit the pheasant page of the DNR Web site.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hull, DNR upland wildlife ecologist - (608) 267-7861 or Sharon Fandel, assistant upland wildlife ecologist - (608) 261-8458
