06-11-2004, 12:06 AM
A 12 percent increase in the number of pheasant hunters in 2003 meant nearly 600,000 roosters were bagged in North Dakota last year, according to Jerry Kobriger, State Game and Fish Department upland game bird supervisor, Dickinson.
Last fall's pheasant harvest was 592,066, up 14 percent from 517,821 in 2002. The number of hunters increased from 78,995 in 2002 to 88,809 last year. The number of resident hunters increased from 56,155 to 63,711, while the number of nonresident pheasant hunters increased from 22,840 to 25,098. Birds bagged per hunter increased from 6.56 to 6.65, and the average hunter spent five days afield.
Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken by resident hunters were Hettinger, 8.7; McLean, 8.5; Stark, 8.4; Burleigh, 7.9; Emmons, 5.2; and Sargent, 5.2.
Top counties for nonresident hunters were Hettinger, 22.4 percent; Dickey, 10.4; Sargent, 6.8; McIntosh, 5.6; and McLean, 5.3.
Annual pheasant season statistics, Kobriger said, are determined by a mail survey of resident and nonresident hunters.
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Last fall's pheasant harvest was 592,066, up 14 percent from 517,821 in 2002. The number of hunters increased from 78,995 in 2002 to 88,809 last year. The number of resident hunters increased from 56,155 to 63,711, while the number of nonresident pheasant hunters increased from 22,840 to 25,098. Birds bagged per hunter increased from 6.56 to 6.65, and the average hunter spent five days afield.
Counties with the highest percentage of pheasants taken by resident hunters were Hettinger, 8.7; McLean, 8.5; Stark, 8.4; Burleigh, 7.9; Emmons, 5.2; and Sargent, 5.2.
Top counties for nonresident hunters were Hettinger, 22.4 percent; Dickey, 10.4; Sargent, 6.8; McIntosh, 5.6; and McLean, 5.3.
Annual pheasant season statistics, Kobriger said, are determined by a mail survey of resident and nonresident hunters.
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