Iowa Outdoors: Pheasant hatching season begins

Reports of pheasant chick broods have been coming in to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources over the past three weeks, marking the beginning of the 2025 hatching season.

The mild winter and favorable April weather led to some early nesting across much of the state, and while May is primarily an incubation month, June is when the peak hatch occurs.

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“Hens are determined nesters and if they lose a nest, they will continue to renest into July, but the data shows that each attempt has fewer eggs than the previous effort,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR.

“When we have early nesting years, we typically have the highest number of chicks, and it is looking like 2025 will be an early nesting year.”

Hens will begin incubating after the last egg is laid, and eggs hatch after 23 days of incubation. The warming temperatures in the forecast should be good heading in to the June 10-15 peak of the hatch; rain and cold weather can be a fatal combination for the newly hatched chicks.

The young pheasants begin to make short flights — around five feet — at 10 days old and can keep up with the hen on longer flights after another five days. The Iowa DNR will release the results of its pheasant population survey — conducted in August as part of the August roadside survey — in early September. The survey is the best estimate of what hunters will find in the field this fall.

100 years of pheasant hunting

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting in the Hawkeye State. The first season was held Oct. 20-22, 1925, when 13 counties in north central Iowa were opened to pheasant hunting. Hunters were allowed a three-rooster limit, for a half-day of hunting. An estimated 75,000 hunters participated.

Hunters can commemorate the 100th anniversary by purchasing a hard card featuring Iowa Pheasants Forever Print of the Year when they purchase their 2025 hunting and fishing licenses.

Information on places to hunt and the August roadside survey results is available online by clicking the 100 Years of Pheasant Hunting graphic at iowadnr.gov/pheasantsurvey.

Outdoor Journey for Girls

The Outdoor Journey for Girls program will take place in Tama County at Hickory Hills Park north of Dysart July 15-17.

Outdoor Journey is a three-day, two-night workshop introducing outdoor skills to girls ages 12-15 in a supportive, learning environment where they have the opportunity to try hands on skills. Activities include kayaking and water safety, basic orienteering, fish and wildlife identification, archery, firearm safety and basic shooting, camping, outdoor survival and hunter education certification.

A fee is charged for Outdoor Journey, and registration can be done through the mail or online. Direct questions to Lori Eberhard at ojcoordinator@gmail.com.

Register online at icense.gooutdoorsiowa.com/Event/ViewEvent.aspx?id=3301.