Statewide Summary, General Information
PHEASANT: Pheasant breeding populations were generally good this spring. However, dry conditions that began a year ago in much of westcentral, northwest, and northcentral Kansas stunted wheat growth this spring, limiting pheasant nesting opportunity in this critical habitat. In those regions where green wheat growth was poor and fallowing is a typical agricultural practice, it appears a high proportion of nesting hens shifted to stubble habitats for their first nesting attempts. Unfortunately, wheat-stubble habitats are insecure as nesting cover because they are usually mechanically disturbed during the nesting period, either by tillage in conventional cropping systems or by row-crop seeding operations in no-till systems. That wheat harvest occurred up to 2 weeks earlier than normal further limited nesting success even where nests were established in green wheat. Much of western and northcentral Kansas received too little rain this summer to bring on adequate cover for the broods that were produced. Areas in a band across the central part of the state that received adequate precipitation to produce good nesting and brood cover should contrast sharply with those just described. Prospects are reasonably good in these areas, although it is unlikely that even these areas will provide hunting equal to 1999. Overall, pheasant hunting will be well below average in much of Kansas' range, but some bright spots remain in a band across the central part of the state. A high proportion of adults in the population will increase hunting difficulty in many areas.

QUAIL: Kansas bobwhite populations seem to have faired better than pheasants this summer. While bobwhite populations are not expected to be outstanding this year, some areas in the state appear to have registered modest gains over 1999 and hunting prospects are relatively good. Unlike the situation in much of western and northern Kansas, spring rains were sufficient in southern and eastern sections of the state to bring on fairly good cover. Even in unusually dry parts of northcentral Kansas, quail appear to have maintained relatively good numbers. Moderate drought conditions in the primary parts of Kansas' bobwhite range have, at least, allowed quail to avoid some of the production problems that have been associated with heavy or persistent rains in recent years. Drier than normal conditions have left pastures in much of Kansas' quail range in relatively poor condition. However, the dry weather has reduced the average height of Conservation Reserve Program grasslands in central and eastern Kansas, actually making the CRP more suitable as quail habitat than is normally the case.

PRAIRIE CHICKEN: Kansas' greater prairie chicken and lesser prairie chicken populations appeared to have increased slightly this spring in comparison to 1999. It is difficult to monitor these species during summer. Dry pasture conditions throughout the state may affect prairie chicken hunting opportunities. Both species' population levels, despite modest gains, are likely to be lower than the long-term average this fall.