Regular pheasant season begins tomorrow.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King says that he believes that there may be record numbers of pheasants harvested this season, and tells Raccoon Valley Radio why that is.

“This year we had some moisture and it came at the right time where our biologists are telling us that our roadside counts have put us at a 20 year high for pheasants. So I’ve checked in a handful of youth hunters that were out last weekend during that youth opener. The statewide season opens up here this weekend coming up and I would fully expect to see a lot of pheasants in bags and for people to have great success or opportunities at least to harvest a number of pheasants.”

King mentions that the average number across the state for pheasants harvested is around 500,000 to 600,000, but that this year DNR biologists predict the possibility of nearly 750,000 birds being harvested.