Game bird numbers doing well
PHOTOS BY GARRY BRANDENBURG — Wild game bird populations are doing well. This author’s sporadic forays into and along backroads, and hikes through and along trails, sometimes yields opportunities for my camera to capture many species of wildlife. You get to see only a very few of the images I kept. The images I did not keep, and thanks to digital photography were deleted, is huge compared to what was retained in my computer files. The final product helps tell a story of how good habitat and the adaptability of the species has enabled many wildlife populations to maintain a steady foothold upon the landscape. Today’s wild turkey images, and a lucky break from my truck window of a young-of-the-year pheasant, indicate that these game bird numbers are doing well as they rebound. My roadside “survey” is completely un-scientific, just fun to do, but still valid in terms of my overall favorable impression of how these populations are holding their own. Look for favorable conditions this fall during hunting seasons.
Game birds in Iowa consist of several species. The list includes the obvious and very popular ring-necked pheasant.
They seem to become visible, and lucky for me, the observer, whenever a random situation takes place. I must admit these happenings take place too often when my long lens camera is tucked away and not ready at an instant notice to make a printable image.
That is okay, it is just a reflection of the fact that many wildlife sightings are very very brief. My memory carries the mental image, even if my camera does not. When all the dominoes of making good wildlife images do fall into place, it is time to record those happening as best as I and my camera can make it happen.
I am a longtime supporter and member of the local Marshall/Tama County chapter of Pheasants Forever. I like what they stand for and what they do to create habitat every year, conduct banquets for annual fund raising, and put a lot of their money to work on local area projects.
PF is a leader among nonprofit private conservation organizations to deliver sustainable solutions. Their efforts, in cooperation with state and county conservation agencies, helps with biodiversity, soil health, water stewardship and rural economic development.
Farmers oftentimes can utilize special cost-share programs to plant pollinator habitats. A special combination of native grasses and flowing forbs help attract beneficial insects.
Those pollinating insects can benefit from new food sources, and simultaneously, ground nesting game and non-game birds also use this new habitat. It is a win-win situation.
PF began in 1982, Aug. 5 to be exact, as an incorporated organization, grassroots (pun intended) entity, to save, restore and build upland habitat programs and projects, and an educational and outreach part of PF’s mission is to introduce youth and adults to conservation and hunting. Since 1982, PF has assisted in acquisitions of land of more than 229,000 acres across the Midwest.
Do plan on attending the next Marshall/Tama county PF banquet. It is still a few months away and will be held on Nov. 9, 2024. The site for the banquet event will be Midnight Garden, 1501 S. 17th Ave. in Marshalltown.
Smokin’ G’s will cater the meal. Ticket information can be obtained from Luke Engel at sarm@mediscombb.net.
Pheasant hunting season in Iowa begins for youth on Oct. 9-10. The regular season for all others begins later on Oct. 26 and runs through Jan. 10, 2025.
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Iowa has other game birds offered under specific hunting dates and limits. The game list has Wild turkeys, Bobwhite Quail, Ruffed Grouse (a northeast Iowa zone), and Gray partridge.
Additional seasons exist for waterfowl, primarily ducks and geese. However, there is also a following for doves, snipe, rail and woodcock. Check out the DNR regulation pamphlet for specific dates and limits.
Wild turkeys may be taken this fall by licensed resident Iowa hunters. Non residents cannot obtain fall turkey tags.
Residents can buy up to two tags for turkeys with a choice of bow only or to take the birds with a gun. Gun zones in Iowa have a quota and license sales end if the quota becomes sold out. Page 10 of the regulations booklet tells the numbers for each zone. Gun season is from Oct. 14 through Dec. 6. Archery only tag dates are Oct. 1 through Dec. 6 and then closed during gun deer seasons. The bow season resumes Dec. 23 through Jan. 10, 2025.
Wild Turkey advocates have their own private conservation organization called the National Wild Turkey Federation. It was founded in 1973 when an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys remained in North America.
After decades of work, including special restocking programs and habitat improvements on both private and public land, the population is now in excess of 7 million! That is a testament to the effectiveness of science-based conservation work.
The NWTF, since its inception, has helped secure and enhance habitat on more than 4 million acres of land. Turkey hunting also is a key log in retention of or getting new hunters involved in hunting activities.
As I noted in my opening paragraph, my forays into turkey habitats can be exciting and have a big bunch of good luck attached to it. The good luck factors are things like driving into Marshalltown along the Sand Road and seeing a dozen or more turkeys single file crossing the county hard surfaced road as I approached.
Getting my telephoto lens into action in time does not always work, so I keep trying. Seeing that nice flock of turkeys was just a coincidence of good timing.
A few minutes later, no one would have even known the turkeys were so near as they were well dispersed into adjacent tall grasses.
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Another complete surprise chance observation of wild game birds was of a nice flock of gray partridge. These birds happened to be adjacent to a gravel road, in the ditch side vegetation, when I approached with my vehicle.
Suddenly the entire group, about 12 birds, sprang up out of cover and flew across the roadway. What a sight it was to see their rapid wing beats propel these game birds into a nearby corn field.
Gray partridges are smaller than pheasants and larger than quail. They have a rusty red bunch of feathers on the top of their tail. Being able to hunt them specifically is a huge challenge.
One can scout for them anywhere in intensive agricultural picked crop fields. They are super secretive and so well camouflaged in plumage as to make them almost invisible. Gray partridge hunting season begins Oct. 12 and runs through Jan. 31, 2025.
If you hunt these birds specifically and are successful, you have pulled off a challenge with huge odds against success.
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Rain this year has been a bit above average, even though its timing was sporadic. People are easily lulled into thinking that Mother Nature will provide just enough rain at just the right times to satisfy human desires for gardens, lawns or farm crops. However, Mother Nature follows her own schedule and we humans have to adapt, adapt or adapt.
So with that thought in mind, here is what my records show for the year 2024 to date. The total rain my Albion gauge has recorded is now at 40.82 inches.
It has not been evenly distributed. Many rains were just right (according to our human wants) and at other times too much too fast, or too dry for too long.
Every year rain events are too random to fit every nuance of need. My gauge recorded March with a total of 2.14″, then April brought 4.31″. May’s total was 9.73″ and June added 5.49″.
July and August saw rains of 9.99″ and 0.98″, respectively. So far during September, rain total is 2.30″.
The overall total so far for 2024 is 40.82″. September is not over and obviously more rain events will take place between now and mid November. Stay tuned for Mother Nature’s surprises.
You may recall that Iowa records for earliest snows of six inches or more happened on Sept. 16, 1881. The latest high temperature was Sept. 28, 1953 when the thermometer topped out at 103F at Glenwood.
Natural history moments of weather happenings all fall within the realm of natural variability. Our fall season will just add to the record book of weather data.
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Garry Brandenburg is the retired director of the Marshall County Conservation Board. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS degree in Fish & Wildlife Biology.
Contact him at:
P.O. Box 96
Albion, IA 50005
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- PHOTOS BY GARRY BRANDENBURG — Wild game bird populations are doing well. This author’s sporadic forays into and along backroads, and hikes through and along trails, sometimes yields opportunities for my camera to capture many species of wildlife. You get to see only a very few of the images I kept. The images I did not keep, and thanks to digital photography were deleted, is huge compared to what was retained in my computer files. The final product helps tell a story of how good habitat and the adaptability of the species has enabled many wildlife populations to maintain a steady foothold upon the landscape. Today’s wild turkey images, and a lucky break from my truck window of a young-of-the-year pheasant, indicate that these game bird numbers are doing well as they rebound. My roadside “survey” is completely un-scientific, just fun to do, but still valid in terms of my overall favorable impression of how these populations are holding their own. Look for favorable conditions this fall during hunting seasons.
