North Dakota upland bird harvest numbers take a hit
Drought conditions and not as many hunters in the field last fall meant fewer pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian partridge in the bag.
Hungarian partridge
Sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge counts down significantly in North Dakota
On the eve of the season opener for both, Game and Fish announces that sharptail numbers are down 29 percent from 2016, while partridge are down 62 percent. So, “in general, hunting will be fair at best.”
Fewer sharptails and Huns, more ruffed grouse expected in North Dakota hunts
North Dakota’s popular hunting seasons for grouse and partridge will open Saturday, Sept. 9. State Game and Fish Department upland game biologist R.J. Gross says hunters will likely see fewer sharptails and Huns compared to last year, while ruffed grouse numbers are up from 2016. Gross said that hot, dry early summer weather likely reduced
Upland game numbers down in North Dakota
In 2016, pheasant harvest down 15 percent, sharptails 21 percent and Hungarian partridge 9 percent from 2015.
