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N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says the spring pheasant population index is down 14 percent from last year.

Upland game management biologist R.J. Gross says record snowfall and extremely cold temperatures at the start of the winter made conditions tough on all wildlife. He also says last year’s pheasant production was below average.

Gross says the spring count doesn’t always dictate the hunting season in the fall. He says many pheasant broods are starting to show up in primary regions holding pheasants.