Bismarck, N.D. (AP) A summer survey indicates the number of pheasants in North Dakota has risen 30 percent from last year. The State Game and Fish Department says pheasant brood observations were up 37 percent, while the average brood size was down only 4 percent. The roadside survey conducted in late July and August included 253 runs along 106 brood routes across the state. Upland Game Management Supervisor Stan Kohn attributes the higher pheasant population to good spring weather for most of the nesting and early brooding period. He says pheasant hunters are going to find more birds in most parts of the state. The 2014 regular pheasant season opens October 11th and continues through next January 4th.