It is important to remember that the population potential of pheasants, like any natural resource, has its limits. Long-term populations will only climb when an increase in the quantity or quality of habitat on a landscape precipitates an expansion. Over the long-term, there will also be fluctuations in the population due to various beneficial and inclement weather conditions. On these same routes this year we observed, on the average, over 85 pheasants on each. Weather permitting, the improved distribution of pheasants across the state will create better opportunities for more pheasant hunters in South Dakota in 2000.
Comparisons are valid only between years within each city area.