Success with pheasant may vary by location

Don't look for pheasant hunting to be much improved this year. In fact, early reports would indicate that the hunt will be slower than last year in many areas.

In Cache and Rich counties, the pheasant populations appear stable and very similar to last year.

Pheasant hunters should expect to find success similar to what they found last year on wildlife management areas, such as Ogden and Farmington bays, but not as good as the success found in 2004 and 2005.

Pheasant populations are similar to last year in the southern part of the Central Region. Agricultural lands and marsh areas around Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake harbor some birds. Limited public hunting is available on the Utah Lake Wetland Preserve and the Powell Slough Wildlife Management Area.

In the western desert, pheasant hunting is marginal at best. Agricultural lands in the area do harbor some birds.

There is also limited public hunting on the Walt Fitzgerald and Carr Fork wildlife management areas.

Pheasant populations remain low and spotty throughout the Northeastern Region. Although limited in distribution, California quail populations are in good shape throughout the brushy areas associated with agricultural fields.

Populations are significantly lower than past years in the Southeastern Region. Small grain production is almost nonexistent in the region, and the farming practices don't favor pheasant populations. Hunting will be poor.

A fair number of pheasants are available on the DWR's wildlife management areas in the Southern Region. Several broods were seen near Clear Lake and Redmond this summer. A few pheasant broods have also been seen in the Millard and Sevier county areas.

Several quail broods have been observed in areas in Millard County, but not as many as in past years. Some birds have also been observed on DWR wildlife management areas in Sevier County.

Quail populations on the Beaver Dam Slope in southwestern Utah have had poor to no recruitment. Some adults have been observed, but populations appear to be down significantly in the area. This can be attributed to a combination of fires in 2006 and a dry spring.

Hunters can increase their chances of bagging a pheasant by scouting areas, spending more time in the field and recruiting a good hunting dog.