PRATT, Kan. — The weather is going to play a good and bad role when it comes to pheasant and quail season this fall.

According to Mike Miller with the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism, the dry winters are making it hard on the pheasant population due to lack of adequate ground cover.

Miller says he expects the hunting to be spotty with some areas void of birds and some with very good turnout. Miller says areas around Barton, Russell and Rush counties will offer some of the best hunting.

The recent wet weather is proving to be good for the quail population and hunting is expected to be quite good in most areas of the state. Miller feels that the quail population is going to be some of the best in recent years.

There’s plenty of walk-in hunting as well in Kansas with over one million acres of public land available in some very good areas.

Pheasant and quail hunting begins Nov. 10. Prairie chicken season will follow on Nov. 17.