Drought in Kansas creating unlikely locations to hunt pheasant, quail

GREAT BEND, Kan. (KWCH) – The pheasant and quail searching season has begun in Kansas, however the drought has modified a number of issues like the place to search out the birds.

For a lot of the yr, Cheyenne Bottoms is named a refuge, however beginning final weekend, components of the wetlands are actually an energetic searching floor.

“We’d usually have 5 to 7,000 hunters out right here all year long, that journey by the world and make the most of the companies, resorts, eating places and stuff,” mentioned Jason Wagner, the supervisor at Cheyenne Bottoms.

This yr, he mentioned, these numbers have modified.

“We’re not going to get anyplace close to that,” mentioned Wagner.

Now, they’re hoping to see a brand new kind of hunter.

“Barton County and Nice Bend, it’s going to be very reliant on the pheasant hunters, due to the drought that Cheyenne Bottoms is dry, which is usually identified for a waterfowl vacation spot,” mentioned Wagner.

Usually, hunters would come to the wetlands to hunt a wide range of geese and waterfowl, however due to the drought, they’re not right here. Now, quail and pheasant have taken their place, bringing these hunters alongside.

Larry Conger, a hunter from Colorado, mentioned a dry Cheyenne Bottoms makes for good looking for him.

“Was on the lookout for a spot to hunt some pheasant and quail and noticed this was out there, so we thought we’d come over and try it, stroll round, and see if we now have any luck,” mentioned Conger. “You recognize wanting on the habitat behind us over right here, it appears like it will be actually good for pheasants. We truly made slightly stroll, and we bagged up six or seven birds, I feel. Received a shot at a rooster however didn’t join.”

Conger mentioned he now desires to make the wetlands, an annual cease.

“I hunt a number of states. That is my first journey to Kansas ever. So I’m hoping that I’ll discover some locations, and I can return yearly, and perform a little little bit of searching out right here,” Conger mentioned.

If you happen to’re desirous about searching pheasant or quail, Kansas guidelines state you can begin thirty minutes earlier than dawn and till sundown. Looking season continues by January 31, 2023.

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