HABITAT

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PF Sign in Grass (vertical) In the early 1980's concerned MN sportsmen founded Pheasants Forever after the state's estimated pheasant population dropped from 6 million in the late 1950's to only 500,000 in 1984. Those sportsmen recognized that the decline was a result of significant habitat declines in the sate. Twenty years later, PF chapters in Minnesota have completed more than 22,000 projects affecting 250,000 acres and in 2005 120,000 Minnesota hunters harvested nearly 600,000 roosters. Pheasants Forever has earned the title of "The Habitat Organization" and is wildely recognized as the leading habitat authority for upland wildlife.

TYPES OF HABITAT

There are 2 key major habitat types critical to successful pheasant populations: Reproductive Cover and Core Wintering Areas. Some will argue that one habitat type is more important than the other; however, it takes all the habitat types in the appropriate quantity and arrangement to maximize pheasant populations.

Reproductive cover is the most limiting factor on pheasants in most of Minnesota. Pheasants thrive when 20-50% of their landscape is in undisturbed reproductive cover. Reproductive cover is comprised of:

Nesting Cover (what is it, establishment & management) and
Brood Rearing Cover

In addition to quality reproductive cover, some areas may benefit from good winter habitat. Quality winter habitat consists of:

Core Wintering Areas provide both secure winter cover and a reliable food source located in close proximity to increase over-winter survival.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Remember that pheasants are LOCAL wildlife and spend most of their lives in a 9 mi2 area. When planning habitat on your land look at all the land around yours and FIRST figure out what is missing, then add that component to the landscape. Many times you need only add a secure food source to existing winter cover or "beef up" existing winter cover to have a CWA in your local area. Nesting cover is most often the limiting habitat factor for pheasants. A CWA will not increase pheasants in your area without adequate nesting cover.

Pheasants thrive in a landscape that has 20-50% reproductive (grassland) habitat. Unfortunately, that landscape rarely occurs in Minnesota. In Minnesota, realistic reproductive habitat targets for a pheasant landscape (¼ township) should include between 10-20% (60+ acres per section). In landscapes with less than 10% undisturbed grassland habitats, the primary objective should be on adding additional reproductive cover. In landscapes with less than 5% reproductive cover, pheasant populations are being supplemented from surrounding habitats in all but the best weather conditions.

Once you reach the target amount of reproductive area, you can consider adding core wintering areas in order to increase survival. Since 85% of pheasants move less than 1.5 miles between nesting habitat and winter cover, core wintering areas should be spaced approximately 3 miles apart to maximize their utilization. This equates to roughly 1 CWA per quarter township.

Don't forget to contact your local Pheasants Forever Wildlife Biologist for help planning your pheasant habitat project, or a PF habitat specialist for assistance in creating and maintaining quality wildlife habitat.

Click here to download MNs Complete Guide to Pheasant Habitat