Members of Pheasants Forever say South Dakota could lose its lucrative pheasant hunting seasons in a few years. A field biologist with the group, Mike Blaalid, says bird numbers are declining in the state, due to reduced participation in the Conservation Reserve Program.
Blaalid remarks, "I think our main problem is the loss of CRP acres in the state. Over the past six years, we’ve lost over 600 thousand acres of CRP throughout the state.
He adds, "That’s a big deal. There’s several reasons, but high grain prices are driving that a little bit. Land rent’s going up, so it’s just not as profitable to be in the CRP program right now."
Blaalid says Pheasants Forever plans a campaign to encourage more farmers to keep land in CRP acres. He says the program is designed to set marginal farming land aside, in part to benefit wildlife habitat.