ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — With South Dakota's annual pheasant survey indicating an uptick in the number of birds hunters should encounter this season, conservation groups say the focus needs to be on habitat.

Pheasants Forever vice president of government affairs Dave Nomsen tells the Aberdeen American News that if the right habitat is put in the right area, the pheasant population can be double or triple in a short time frame. He says pheasants are prolific and biologically receptive to responding to the right conditions.

The state Game, Fish and Parks Department released its statewide pheasant survey last week, noting a 42 percent jump in birds compared to last year's survey. Officials credited a mild winter and good spring weather.

Nomsen opened a Pheasants Forever office in Brookings last year.

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