(Atlantic, IA) — The peak pheasant hatch is here, and DNR employees are surveying how many chicks they see and estimating how old they are based on their size. John Lorenzen with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says that everything is looking good so far:
The peak pheasant hatch for the first nests is between June 10th and June 15th. The first nesting is always the most successful when looking at the amount of broods, but re-nests will be attempted later in the season if the first nest is destroyed, flooded, or abandoned. The peak hatch for second nesting attempts is usually seen around June 24th with later attempts coming in July.
The 2024 pheasant hatch brought a combination of setbacks and encouraging signs. While flooding in some regions disrupted nesting and brood-rearing, other areas benefited from favorable conditions and reported strong brood sizes. However, last year’s survey revealed a steep 72-percent decline in pheasant numbers in Iowa’s southwest region.
