PANHANDLE PHEASANT, 2: Changes in Panhandle farming 
practices affect pheasant�ahead on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Pheasant can make a good living in the Panhandle.

24�If they can find an area where there�s good grain crops�like wheat, 
sorghum, corn�and playa lakes that will intersect with CRP [conservation 
reserve program] and the grain crops. That�s really good habitat. The CRP 
and the playa lakes provide plenty of cover, and the grain crops provide 
an ample food source for them. And then the irrigated crops, you know, 
that will provide a good water source for them, too.

Biologist Todd Mon-TAN-don surveys pheasant in fall to 
develop harvest recommendations, noting their numbers 
and distribution.

19�The change in farming practices has affected where the distribution 
of the birds has been. Up in the northern panhandle you have more 
grain, sorghum, corn and wheat. And then as you move further south, it 
shifts over to cotton and wheat. And it�s not as conducive to pheasant 
populations as it is up north.

Changes in irrigation also play a role in the species� 
survival.

14�Back in the 70s and 80s, most of the irrigating was done with 
irrigation ditches into the rows. And now, it�s switched over to the 
sprinkler system. And there�s not as much water on the ground as there 
used to be.

Despite these setbacks, Todd Mon-TAN-don is optimistic 
about the upcoming hunting season. Details tomorrow.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife�I�m Cecilia Nasti. 








Total sound bite time:		                 0:57.0
Maximum Script time:		                 0:28.0                     Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25