BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — North Dakota Game and Fish conducted its annual roadside survey in July and August. The numbers from the survey were published on September 8.

The total number of pheasants observed is down 3% from last year. Pheasant broods are down 1% and brood size is down 6%. Despite this, the statewide number of pheasants is 48% above the ten-year average.

Sharptail Grouse and Partridge numbers are both down significantly. This is due to severe weather, particularly in late June and July. "They had bad production," said Upland game biologist Rj Gross. "It was wet and cold, wet is really what hurts the chick's survival."

Sharptails are down 38% from last year and 30% below the ten-year average, with observers seeing just 2.1 broods per 100 miles. Partridges are down 26% with j

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