Yes, the CRP has diminished in Iowa, but in areas where CRP still exists, or in areas where it was never dominant, we are not seeing pheasants in quantities anywhere near the 1980s or early 90s. A lot of good cover has been lost in corn fields with the Roundup Ready type farming. There used to be many more weeds in the corn rows, all good for pheasants. Pheasants do feed on bugs and the modern insecticides are pretty potent, thus less available food for the pheasant. In southwest and southeast Iowa I have recently hunted in areas that "looked really good" but held little game. So little, that I do not plan to go back anytime soon , after many decades of successful hunting in these areas.

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