In the future, children in Iowa won't know what a pheasant looks like

Iowa's pheasant harvest projected to set another record low

"The bottom line is weather trumps all when it comes to hen survival and nesting success," said Bogenschutz. "Tell me the amount of snowfall, the amount of rain and the temperature in the spring, and I can tell you if pheasant counts will be up or down that summer. The weather models are that accurate. We are now in a weather pattern of five consecutive winters with heavy snow and springs with lots of rain. That has not happened in 50 years."