Pheasant hunters ready to hit the fields again

The turkey won’t be the only bird at the center of attention this holiday weekend. Alan Foster of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says many Iowans will seek a pheasant before sitting down to the traditional Thanksgiving meal. He says opening day is typically the busiest day, but he says Thanksgiving is a close second. He says many people come back home for the holiday and they have a tradition of going out in the morning for a pheasant hunt. Foster expects thousands of Iowans to hit the fields in search of a ringneck. He says opening day brings out 130 to 140-thousand people, and he expects 60 to 70-thousand people out this weekend. Pheasant season opened one month ago, and Foster says the safety guidelines used then still apply. He says it’s not required, but they highly recommend that you wear a blaze orange vest, shirt or coveralls. He says you should always know what you’re shooting at and where your hunting partner is. He says the last thing you want to do is have a hunting accident, and one involving a family member can “create quite a situation.” Pheasant numbers were way up this year, so Foster says most hunters should have success. He says the numbers obviously won’t be as high as the start of the season, but he says he’s seen lots of birds every time he’s gone out. The pheasant season runs through January 10th.