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Species · Minnesota · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Minnesota

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Ring-necked Pheasant in Minnesota has risen sharply: up 55% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+55%Since 1969TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
66Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
58YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Ring-necked Pheasant Trends in MinnesotaNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

long arc increasecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

Ring-necked Pheasant has risen sharply in Minnesota: up 55% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Forecast in Minnesota

If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Minnesota is projected to fall about 23% by 2030 — from 14 in 2025 to a central estimate of 11 (95% range 5.3–17). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±13.2%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-23%Change by 2030TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
11Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
5.3–1795% range95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
±13.2%Backtest errorBacktest errorTypical error when we hold out the most recent years, forecast them, and compare to what actually happened. Lower means a more trustworthy projection.Full methodology →
If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Minnesota is projected to fall about 23% by 2030 — from 14 in 2025 to a central estimate of 11 (95% range 5.3–17). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±13.2%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19672030
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →95% low95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →95% high95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
2026115.116
2027115.216
2028115.216
2029115.216
2030115.317

Ring-necked Pheasant Survey Routes in Minnesota

Routes recording Ring-necked Pheasant in Minnesota.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →
Tracy10820252004
Chokio North10120251993
Worthington6020252004
Appleton5920251978
Glenwood5620191993
Redwood Fall5120251978
Chokio5020251970
Fairmont4620251993
New London4320241994
Chatfield 23920252003
Princeton3520251969
Huntley3320251968
Franklin3220251994
Chandler2820251969
Ashby2720211997
Minnetonka2620251969
Austin2520231993
Le Roy2220251993
Big Stone2020121995
Maynard1920151967
Tenney1720161978
Ash Creek1520251975
Gluek1520191967
Arlington1420251967
Courtland1220251978

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Other States

alaskaarizonacaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawareidahoillinoisindianaiowakansasmainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganmissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-dakotatexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.