Core Wintering Area
Landscapes that have secure winter cover AND a reliable food source, located in close proximity are called Core Wintering Areas (CWAs). A CWA is designed to provide protection during Minnesota's most severe winters, but may take years to reach its full potential. Core Wintering Areas should be at least 15 acres in size and at a minimum should include:
- 3 acres (200' x 600') of short woody cover (conifers and shrubs)
- 10 acres of heavy herbaceous cover, and
- a protected 2-acre food plot.
Most important, these elements should be located in close proximity and in areas with adequate nesting habitat. Even in Minnesota, pheasants rarely starve, but when food is not located near cover they are exposed to weather and predators. Most pheasants move less than ½ mile between food and winter cover, so it is essential that they be located in close proximity to one another. The primary purpose of a food plot in a Core Wintering Area, is to attract pheasants to high quality winter cover.
Where to locate a CWA?
In most of Minnesota, the limiting factor influencing pheasant populations is undisturbed nesting cover. Even with increased winter survival, populations will not increase without a sufficient base of undisturbed nesting habitat. Pheasant populations thrive in a landscape that includes 10-20% undisturbed grasslands.
In landscapes that have sufficient nesting cover, but experience severe winters, CWA's can have a dramatic effect on pheasant populations. Nearly 90% of pheasants will move less than 2 miles between nesting habitat and winter cover and more than 60% of those will move less than a mile; therefore, CWA's should be strategically spaced across the landscape.
Locate CWA's within 1 or 2 miles of secure nesting habitat and within 3 miles of each other to maximize their benefits to pheasants and other wildlife.