BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Saturday is an unofficial holiday for many sportsmen and women around North Dakota. Tomorrow morning marks the start of pheasant season in the state.

That's a time when hunters and their dogs will be hopping out of the pickup to go look for a limit of roosters.

North Dakota Game and Fish upland game biologist RJ Gross says hunters can expect to see more birds in many parts of the state, especially southwestern areas including Hettinger and Mott.

Gross says while the last winter wasn't as severe for birds, heavy rain in May forced many hens to renest, which he expects will mean more young roosters that hunters encounter in the field.

"If we go back to the 2017 drought, that really knocked pheasants back in the southwest," Gross said. "I mean, upwards of 75%. We're

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