Favorable conditions should mean good hunting for upland fans

Pheasant hunters and fans of other upland game birds may be primed for a decent fall. Both the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Idaho Department of Fish and Game report that weather conditions set up favorably for species like pheasants, chukars, forest grouse and gray partridge.

Washington

Biologists with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife predict that mild weather last winter and spring should have led to high survival of upland game birds like pheasants and quail. The wet (but not too wet) spring should have produced good cover, seed crops and insects that the birds rely on.

“Overall, wild pheasant numbers are likely to be average this coming hunting season,” agency biologists wrote in a hunting prospects report.

They predict hunters should average about 0.7 birds per day during hunting trips this fall.

Pheasant season opens Oct. 19 in eastern Washington. Seasons for quail, chukar and partridge open Oct. 5.

Idaho

Biologists with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said an early and mild spring set upland game birds up for successful brooding and rearing of young.

The weather promoted early growth that was sustained by periodic rain on the Palouse and Camas prairies. Wildlife managers reported seeing large, first and second, broods of birds. Birds like pheasants and quail will sometimes produce a second brood during the spring if weather conditions lead to poor survival of their first attempt.

“Secondary nest production has resulted in large broods of quail throughout many reaches of the Clearwater, Salmon and Snake Rivers,” Idaho officials wrote in a news release. “Pheasant numbers and brood success appear comparable to previous years. Forest grouse numbers also appear promising and seem to have benefited from mild over-winter and spring conditions. Chukar numbers continue to remain strong this season with large broods observed throughout the breaks of the Snake and Salmon Rivers. Overall, upland hunters should expect another year of good-to-excellent upland bird hunting across the Clearwater Region.”

Idaho’s pheasant season opens Oct. 12 in northern Idaho. Seasons for quail, chukars and partridge opened Saturday.