In addition, North Dakota hunters in 2024( up 8 %) killed 67,465 Hungarian partridge, very similar to 2023. The best counties for partridge included, in order, Stark, McLean, Hettinger, Williams and Divide. •
Up North
North Dakota also relies heavily on after-season surveys, in addition to both spring crowing counts and late summer brood counts.
“ Entering the nesting season, residual grass cover looked good,” said RJ Gross, North Dakota Department upland game management biologist.“ The timely May rains caused increased growth in nesting and brood rearing cover across the state. Combined with high overwinter survival the past two years and near ideal nesting habitat conditions, things are looking good for upland birds in portions of North Dakota.”
In 2024, North Dakota’ s upland bird hunters enjoyed increases in success.
ND 2024 Upland Game Seasons
North Dakota’ s 2024 pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse harvests were up, according to the ND Game and Fish Department. Upland game biologist RJ Gross said the overall harvest was likely a result of more hunters, more trips and more birds in the population.
“ The winter of 2023-24 was mild, and no die-offs were reported. In 2024, we observed an increase in pheasant crows heard during our spring crowing counts and sharptails during spring lek surveys,” Gross said.“ Although chick production was decreased by the wet and cold nesting season, the increase in adult density added more broods to the population.”
Last year, 55,401 pheasant hunters( up 3 %) harvested 357,018 roosters( up 12 %), compared to 53,819 hunters and 319,287 roosters in 2023.
A total of 21,660 grouse hunters( up 1 %) harvested 73,010 sharp-tailed grouse( up 8 %), compared to 21,512 hunters and 67,710 sharptails in 2023.
Last fall, some 55,401 pheasant hunters( up 3 %) killed 357,018 roosters( up 12 %). As usual, pheasants taken were highest in Hettinger County, followed by Divide, Burleigh, Williams and McLean.
Where sharp-tailed grouse were concerned, 21,660 hunters( up 1 %) killed 73,010 birds( up 8 %) from 2023. Best success for sharptails was found in Divide, Hettinger, Williams, Morton and Bowman counties.
Pheasant brood counts in North Dakota were in progress as this issue went to press.
In addition, North Dakota hunters in 2024( up 8 %) killed 67,465 Hungarian partridge, very similar to 2023. The best counties for partridge included, in order, Stark, McLean, Hettinger, Williams and Divide. •
www. dakotacountrymagazine. com Dakota Country, September 2025, Page 39