Pheasant hunting in Iowa for its regular season kicks off this weekend. A good supply of rooster pheasants have been determined by several factors. Those factors include a mild winter of 2024 and early 2025 with under 30 inches of snow. A mild and warm spring helped. And lastly the annual roadside count conducted by DNR staff was successful in adding new trend line data to upland game bird survey statistics. Last weekend was the designated yuouth only fall pheasant hunt. The young lad who took his first rooster is Michal Lozinski, age 10. He was assisted by his adult mentor who has a German Wirehaired Pointer dog. The artwork image of flying pheasants is by wildlife artist Rick Morkel that he created in 1991. He captured the beauty of a pair offlying ring-necks over a winter wetland landscape. The local PF banquet will be held on November 1st, 2025 at the Midnight Garden, 1501 South 17th Ave, in Marshalltown.

PHEASANTS will be on the mind of many hunters this weekend as the opener for Ring-necked pheasant roosters will get under way for this fall. It is with much anticipation that this upland game bird will be pursued with high hopes of obtaining a three bird limit. After many years of populations holding on in spite of poor weather, this year appears to be offering a reprieve as shown by improved survival of hens and roosters.

New memories will be made for experienced hunters as well as newcomers to the sport of upland bird hunting. Local hunters and lots of hunters from out-of-state may be trying their luck all across the Iowa landscape.

Ring-necked pheasants are native to Asia. The species was introduced into Oregon in the late 1800s. They adapted well. A market developed to capture some of these colorful game birds and introduce them to other parts of North America. In Iowa it so happened that a private land owner set up a captive pen system for his pheasants near Cedar Falls, IA where in 1901, a wind storm blew down his fencing system. This accidental release of about 2,000 pheasants started a new chapter in wildlife stories for the Hawkeye state.

The release of these pheasants was unintentional. Those pheasants adapted well and spread out to many places in north central Iowa. It became apparent that this species liked Iowa farm lands so well that they were initially called pests. Hunting seasons were called for. Slow at first and then expanded upon in 1925, one hundred years ago, that first pheasant season was authorized in 13 north central counties. That season opened at noontime.

Now a standardized opener is working well. For 2025, the one hundred year mark, the tradition continues for pursuit of this colorful game bird. Hunting times begin at 8 am each day and close daily at 4:30 pm. Three cock birds per day are allowed. At the end of a fourth day, the possession limit of 12 takes effect. Adult resident hunters age 16 or older, need a hunting license ($ 22.00) and for those age 16 -64, a habitat fee ( $15.00) must also be in hand. Non resident hunting fees are more…. $131.00 for an annual license, and habitat fee remains at $15.00. If non-residents are visiting for a 5 day stay, a five day hunting license cost is $77.00. If any Iowans so chose to travel out of state to Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska or South Dakota, you get the honor of paying higher fees for hunting privileges.

Do be safe during hunting game birds. Wear the required minimum blaze orange hat. Better yet wear a vest or coat in addition. If in a group, have a hunt plan to insure safety at all times.

————

BANQUET TIME for Pheasants Forever organizations are coming up. The local banquet for Tama and Marshall County will be held November 1st, 2025 at Marshalltown’s Midnight Garden facility. Doors open at 4 pm for inspection of auction items, game playing. Smokin G’s will be serving the food line that evening. Auction will likely begin at about 7 pm. Funds raised go toward habitat projects primarily in Tama or Marshall County. Several recent projects are now beginning to show great responses as prairie grasses grow tall to provide cover for birds, small mammals and host of insect pollinator species.

————

OCTOBER as the current month is closing after this weekend. In the rain records for Albion, IA, this author’s rain gauge has recorded all liquid precipitation since March 1st. That total as of mid week now stands at 30.19 inches. Of course this total is subject to change if Mother Nature so chooses by Friday the 31st at mid-night. I will keep recording rainfall into November as long as the air temperatures remain well above freezing. We do know that a first frost in Iowa is very close to happening anytime now. Pumpkin carving is well underway in anticipation of young people knocking on doors.

————

DEER hunters in Iowa have hit the forests and field edges awaiting the passing of deer to take with archery equipment. Statewide numbers for harvest data is showing over 8,400 total deer so far. About 4,300 are doe deer and that leaves approximately 4,100 as bucks, button bucks or for a very few, bucks that have already lost their antlers. Marshall County deer hunters have taken a total of 31 as of mid week. Cooler weather and shorter day lengths will drive the inevitable cycle for deer breeding. The first two weeks of November always seem to be prime time.

————

MAGIC TIME: One of my special outdoor adventure times are early morning sits watching the sun rise. Warm light begins to creep into the eastern sky and illuminate the under sides of any clouds that may be lingering.

The warm light paints the clouds a nice orange or pink for a brief time. Bird songs come alive. Even rooster pheasants give a crowing call of awakening. Sunlight at low angles filters through tree trunks and branches. Leaves on the trees take on a glow as the low angled sun rays seem to bounce off those colorful leaves to add eye catching scenes worthy of recording with a camera. Most “recordings” however are just new memories added to my mind of why early mornings are worth the effort.

Soon enough another chapter of fall season will come quickly. That is the almost complete loss of tree leaves during the next month. One day they are on the trees. Then on the next day they fall like giant colorful “leaf flakes” similar to those big white snow flakes we will surely see during the coming winter. As tree leaves lazily float downward toward the ground, their bare branches may reveal bird nests that were once well hidden. No leaves means that more sunlight can penetrate during the daytime. As an archer in a tree stand, my field of vision is now increased greatly so as to pick up movements of deer at greater distances. The ground has new leaf litter mulching to insulate the forest soils for a bit longer. Deer have to shuffle through those leaves and their hooves do a good job most of the time of slipping silently under the leaves.

Come evening time, as the sun gets lower and begins to set, orange light may again paint the undersides of clouds. They will glow for a few moments just like those sunrise times equivalent. Canada geese will honk as they pass overhead. Ducks will circle to find a river quiet pool to sit in before dark sets in too deep. Raccoons will emerge from a tree hollow to search for food morsels. Owl hoots will increase as they talk owl talk to others of their own species. Coyote yips and barks will tell other coyotes of who and what may be happening in other places.

The day has passed. Night is approaching fast. I carefully climb down from my tree stand sliding my safety slip knot fall restrainer as I go. I get to the ground, untie my safety line, gather my gear and quietly as I can walk out of the forest. My day in the forest has allowed me to observe Mother Nature’s best. I call it magic time. My best advice is to repeat these deeds as often as possible.

————

Wanted: For a special project….. one old white-tail deer shoulder mount. It can be scruffy looking (because it is old or really old), and antler size can be moderate to small. Even if it is ugly looking that will fit the mission. Contact this author at 641-750-4914 for details of either a loan or purc ase. Deadline is mid November.

————

“Fate whispers to the hunter: you can’t withstand the storm. The hunter whispers back: I am the storm.”

— Unknown author

——–

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