Officials blamed a loss of habitat as more farmers converted grassland into cropland, but the 2009 numbers are 13 percent higher than the 10-year average. "It's my hope that people won't glimpse at the brood survey and decide against hunting pheasants this year ... Sure, the numbers may be down, but that doesn't mean solid dog work, proper strategy and a little luck won't pay off again as it has in the past." Last year, biologists counted 8.56 pheasants per mile - that was 64 percent ahead of the 10-year average and marked the highest ratio recorded since 1963. Full Article at Argus Leader