Eastern Segment 



Observations throughout the study (Constan 1976-77-78 and 

 Appendix Table 9) indicate that pheasants are mainly located 

 along Dog Cr., Rose Cr. , Cutbank Cr., Judith River, Missouri 

 River, northwest of Winifred and on the Everson Bench (Figure 

 26). Most pheasant habitat is associated with agricultural 

 lands that include dense brushy draws. Brushy areas with a 

 combination of willows, chokecherry, wild rose, snowberry, 

 buf faloberry, and hawthorn provide excellent habitat for phea- 

 sants. Pheasant habitat is especially good when these brushy 

 areas are surrounded by small grain agriculture. 



Three broods were observed in summer 19 78 and they aver- 

 aged 5.3 juveniles per brood. Region 4 1978 brood data aver- 

 aged 5.6 juveniles per brood. 



The pheasant harvest estimate, from hunter questionnaires, 

 for Fergus County in 19 78 was 11,4 79. This was down 7 percent 

 from the 1977 harvest (12,325), but still higher than the 1976 

 harvest of 9,692. 



The 1978-79 winter roadside pheasant sex ratio was 2.0 

 hens per cock (sample of 453). This compared to ratios of 2.6, 

 1.7 and 1.3 hens per cock in the winters of 1977-78, 76-77, and 

 75-76, respectively. 



Most of the good pheasant habitat within the study area is 

 keyed to dense brushy cover, and it appears that dense brushy 

 cover is probably the major limiting factor for pheasants in 

 the study area. Consequently, brush eradication is a major 

 land use practice affecting pheasants. Without good brushy 

 cover, pheasants cannot survive. Besides brush eradication, 

 overgrazing of grasslands and brushy bottoms and clean farming 

 with its associated practices cause detrimental impacts on 

 pheasants. Dam building on the Missouri or Judith rivers would 

 also destroy much pheasant habitat. 



Nearly all of the study area's pheasant habitat is on 

 private lands. The only lands under public ownership of more 

 than minor importance to pheasants are as follows: 



State Lands - Sec 16, T24N, R25E. 



BLM Lands - Sec 29 and 32, T21N, R19E. 



65 



