Iowa hunters bagged the most pheasants since 2007. What contributed to the high numbers?

Iowa saw a bountiful pheasant hunting season in 2023, bagging more birds than the last 16 years.

An increase in pheasant populations also contributed to an increase in hunters, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

How many pheasants were bagged in Iowa?

More than 590,000 pheasants were bagged last fall. Strong populations accounted for the 62% increase in harvest. This also resulted in a 32% increase in the number of pheasant hunters, according to the DNR. More than 83,600 hunters pursued pheasants in Iowa in comparison to the 63,500 pheasant hunters in 2022.

“We’ve had a pheasant population that could support a harvest of around 600,000 birds for a few years now, but we couldn’t reach that total until our hunter numbers returned to the mid-2000s level,” said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for the DNR. “Last year they did, and our harvest reflected that.”

More: Deer hunting season in Iowa is fast approaching. With new rules, here is what to know:

What contributed to high pheasant numbers?

The drought and mild winters helped ground nesting birds including turkeys and pheasants, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Spring flooding was expected to hinder pheasant populations in 2024 slightly, but the northern half of the state is still expected to have strong numbers, according to the DNR.

When is pheasant hunting season in Iowa?

The pheasant hunting season runs from Oct. 26 to Jan. 10. Hunting can start as early as 8 a.m. and must end by 4:30 p.m.

Pheasant hunting for youth in Iowa hunters is the prior weekend on Oct. 19 to Oct. 20, according to the DNR.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.