(Le Mars) — The Pheasants Forever organization has ranked the nation’s top 25 locations for pheasant hunting. As you might imagine, South Dakota is a popular hunting ground with six of the top locations. But Le Mars and Plymouth County was rated at number 23. The editors of the wildlife sportsman’s magazine says “Plymouth County and the northwest corner of Iowa currently provide the best pheasant hunting opportunities in the Hawkeye State.” Bob Puetz serves as Plymouth County’s Pheasant Forever chapter president.
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Puetz says the ranking may help attract hunting tourism to the area. He believes Plymouth County may have received the rating based on the local chapter’s efforts of constantly adding habitat acres for pheasants.
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The state trend shows a decline in pheasant numbers, but Pitts believes the trend will reverse itself in Plymouth county.
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Okoboji and the surrounding Iowa Great Lakes region was the only other Iowa location mentioned. The Okoboji region placed ninth for the best pheasant hunting.
