Results of South Dakota’s annual pheasant brood count show that pheasant numbers grew in many areas of the state, due in large part to a mild winter and ideal weather during the nesting and brood-rearing season. The pheasants-per-mile index for 2012 is 4.21, up 18 percent from the 3.57 index of 2011.

More than 1.5 million pheasants were harvested last year, and the counts indicate that this year will be another excellent year for pheasant hunting in South Dakota, said Jeff Vonk, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

The 2012 Pheasant Brood Survey Report, complete with comparisons for the different local areas, can be found here.