Salina ? Recent drought and other weather conditions have cut into the number of quail and pheasant that hunters may find in sections of Kansas when the season opens this weekend.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism predicts Kansas “will experience a substantial decline in the pheasant population this year,” according to the forecast on its website, and a “general decline” in quail populations. Hunting season for quail and pheasants opens Saturday in Kansas and runs through Jan. 31.

“We’re down from last year, but last year was probably the highest we’d had in a couple decades,” said Dave Dahlgren, small game specialist with the Wildlife, Parks and Tourism office in Hays.

“Those people who are willing to get out and work a little bit will still get their birds,” he said. “It’s just going to be tougher.”

The Salina Journal reports that drought and hail this year have contributed to the lower numbers. The best pheasant hunting in Kansas could be north of Interstate 70 and west of U.S. 81.

The poor numbers could also mean less money for Kansas businesses. Opening weekend typically draws 50,000 to 70,000 hunters, said Mike Miller, a spokesman for Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Conservatively, opening weekend amounts to $7.5 million a day being spent, and many of those dollars change hands in rural towns.

Hotels in Beloit and Downs that rely on hunting business have felt some diminished enthusiasm for this opening weekend.

“That bird report does dictate the travel of hunters from outside of the area,” said Janet Remus, managing owner of the Super 8, a hotel in Beloit. Thanks to a waiting list, she said, the Super 8 is still sold out.

The best pheasant hunting in Kansas could be north of Interstate Highway 70 and west of U.S. Highway 81. Northeast, south-central and southwest Kansas are seeing “considerably lower pheasant numbers,” according to the state forecast.

Pheasant numbers in portions of north-central and northwest Kansas will be “relatively good compared to other areas of the state, but still down from last year,” the forecast said.

“Northwest Kansas is the one (region) that’s looking the best,” said Greg Salisbury, a game warden in Saline and Ottawa counties.

However, parts of Norton, Graham and Rooks counties, where heavy rainfall and multiple hailstorms occurred during peak pheasant reproductive periods, will see reduced production, according to the experts.

Elsewhere is “pretty poor,” Salisbury said. “I heard some say it’s down by 85 percent.”

Salisbury doesn’t expect as many hunters, but many don’t come just to shoot birds.

“They still like the social part, seeing family and friends,” Salisbury said.

Beyond pheasant and quail, he said “there are a lot of turkey and deer opportunities out there.”