Drought To Have An effect On Pheasant Season.

Hunters might find disappointment on the opening day of bird season in parts of Kansas this weekend. You can blame it on the drought.

Hunters are looking forward to seeing pheasants, but the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism says there’s a substantial decline in the pheasant population this year.

Hunting seasons are important to the Kansas tourism industry. Hunters typically spend $150 a day on lodging, food, fuel and hunting supplies. The smaller bird population this year is a concern to Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Secretary Robin Jennison, who was in Wichita Thursday.

"It’s probably going to shorten the season up," Jennison said. "And it’s probably not going to be as good a weekend in the southwest parts of Kansas. But I think other folks are changing where they’re going."

Jennison says Kansas still has a greater diversity of hunting opportunities than other states, despite the lower numbers of pheasants this year.

"That undoubtedly is going to affect were hunters go," he said.