Iowa hunters are gearing up for what is expected to be one of the best pheasant seasons in recent memory. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently conducted its annual roadside survey, revealing that the statewide pheasant population is nearly 23 birds per route, marking a 15-percent increase from the previous year. This rise in pheasant numbers is especially prominent in the southwest, northwest, and northeast regions. Todd Bogenschutz, an upland wildlife biologist with the Iowa DNR, says the pheasant population is the highest it has been since 2015. Combined with the quick progression of the crop harvest and favorable weekend weather forecasts, the stage is set for a successful season opener. It is estimated that Iowa hunters can expect to harvest between 300,000 to 400,000 roosters this year, which is in line with the harvest figures of the past two years, the highest in over a decade. Bogenschutz anticipates that approximately 50,000 hunters will be out this weekend. In addition to the pheasant season, quail season also kicks off this weekend, with the population showing promise for a good hunting season. The Iowa Pheasant Season runs from Oct. 28 to Jan. 10, with shooting hours between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The daily bag limit is three roosters, and the possession limit is 12. Iowa’s quail season is on the same dates as the pheasant season, with the same shooting hours and blaze orange clothing requirements. To assist hunters in finding suitable locations, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides an interactive online tool called the Iowa Hunting Atlas, which features over 680,000 acres of public hunting land across the state, and a link to that page is included below.
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