1 more COVID-19 death in O'Brien County

The total number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in O'Brien County increased from seven to eight over the past week.

Clay County remained unchanged with 3 deaths. Overall, O'Brien County has had 231 total confirmed coronavirus cases since March and 141 recoveries, while Clay County has had 244 cases and 200 recoveries.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Prairie View Campus in Sanborn grew by two over the past week. According to the state's coronavirus update page, the facility has had 24 confirmed cases and 16 recoveries.

Statewide, there have been 71,017 positive cases, 50,514 recoveries and 1,185 deaths.

Iowa pheasant looking good

Iowa's recently completed annual pheasant survey is great news for hunters – statewide, Iowa averaged 20.2 birds per 30-mile route, up significantly from 2019, with six of the nine survey regions averaging more than 20 pheasants per route, the most since 2007.

"Pheasant hunters should expect significantly better pheasant numbers in 2020," said Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife biologist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in a news release. "Pheasant hunting this fall could be some of the best the state has seen in a decade."

Bogenschutz credits the 2020 winter with its mild temperatures and little snowfall that led to higher hen survival and coupled with a dry spring to more successful nesting and an increase in the population. The southeast region led the way with a 163 percent increase, followed by the northeast region with a 115 percent increase and east central region with a 55 percent increase.

While those numbers are very good, the statewide numbers would have likely been better if not for the drought conditions impacting much of the state.

Given this year's statewide index of 20 birds per route Iowa, pheasant hunters should harvest approximately 250,000 to 350,000 roosters this fall.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Horse and buggy show: It's not every day that you see someone riding a horse through town, let alone one pulling a buggy through the bank drive-through. Driver David Brugman, of Royal, gave bank staff and small-town onlookers a treat with his appearance in town last week at Home State Bank.

Iowa's quail population was essentially unchanged from 2019 with the highest quail numbers coming from southwest Iowa. While the counts were unchanged, it is still double the number of quail counted from a decade ago. Hunters can expect to harvest more than 20,000 quail this year.

Iowa's partridge population was up slightly over last year with higher counts coming from north central Iowa. Iowa's rabbit population was nearly identical to 2019 with better populations across southern and east central Iowa.

• Iowa's pheasant season is Oct. 31-Jan. 10, 2021

• Iowa's quail season is Oct. 31-Jan. 31, 2021

• Iowa's partridge season is Oct. 10-Jan. 31, 2021

• Iowa's cottontail rabbit season is Sept. 5-Feb. 28, 2021.