Oklahoma panhandle pheasant season looks promising

Pheasant season is open in the panhandle and good numbers of the colorful gamebirds are available to flush ahead of the state's sportsmen. For many, there is no better way to spend a day than to roam

Monday, December 4th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Pheasant season is open in the panhandle and good numbers of the colorful gamebirds are available to flush ahead of the state's sportsmen. For many, there is no better way to spend a day than to roam the uplands of the region looking for the stately bird.

"I expect a good season," said Danny Watson, wildlife biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. "We had a good year last year, and we seem to have about the same number of birds this year. It is just a matter of getting out and hunting them."

Pheasant habitat in the panhandle consists primarily of row crops, such as milo and corn. Most of those crops have been harvested, but there's still plenty of milo stubble and cornstalks that provide good pheasant habitat. Some of the best areas are fields dedicated to the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which are adjacent to the crop fields.

"There is a lot of land that is CRP instead of winter wheat," Watson explained. "When it was wheat it didn't hold that many birds, but now it does. Pheasants have responded to the habitat and to good weather the last couple of years.

"I have seen good numbers of birds on our public hunting areas, but they can be hard to hunt on WMA's. You can try your luck, but I encourage people to quail hunt on public land, and if they get a pheasant, that's a bonus."

In the panhandle, the daily limit for pheasants is three roosters, with a possession limit of six after the first day and nine after the second day. Persons who hunt in two states having separate daily bag limits may not exceed the largest number of birds that can be legally taken in one of the states in which they harvest the birds. Evidence of sex (head or one foot) must remain on the bird until it reaches its final destination.

Safety is also extremely important. In many instances, pheasants are hunted by large groups of hunters. Groups should discuss safety procedures before hunting. Everyone involved in the hunt should be aware of each other's whereabouts and determine individual shooting zones beforehand.

"It would help if everyone would wear a blaze orange cap or vest," Watson added. "It won't alert birds but it will alert your hunting partners. The main thing is to be safe and enjoy the trip."

The panhandle season runs from Dec. 1 through Jan. 1, 2001. Hunters should always ask permission before entering private property. Before going afield, be sure to pick up a copy of the 2000-2001 Oklahoma Hunting Guide and Regulations, available at all hunting and fishing license dealers.