BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Current weather conditions are making travel difficult as pheasant hunting season kicks off this weekend.

With heavy snow in much of the state covering roads and fields that were already saturated, travel on section line trails, unimproved roads and in harvested grain fields where hunting might take place will be nearly impossible.

Game & Fish Outreach Biologist Doug Leier says pheasant hunters will be dealing with similar conditions this year as they were last year.

Leier says hunters may need to exercise patience because the season is long an the numbers are up.

Leier says once things settle down, hunters should be able to find pheasants across the state.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is asking hunters to be aware of on- and off-road conditions, and strongly discourages driving on soft, muddy roads, trails and section lines.

North Dakota’s pheasant season opens Saturday, Oct. 12 and continues through Jan. 5, 2020. The daily limit is three roosters with 12 in possession.

Listen to Doug Leier talk the Outdoors with JD in the Morning on Big Dog 95.5 FM every Thursday at 7:35 AM.