PIERRE — Tough weather and tough finances have combined for fewer pheasant hunters in South Dakota this fall. Now they might be getting some additional inducement to head to the fields.

For those hunters fortunate enough to see enough birds, they might be allowed to take five pheasants a day starting this weekend rather than the standard daily limit of three.

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission plans to consider an emergency rule change Thursday afternoon during its meeting in Pierre.

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The proposed change would allow hunters to kill five pheasants per day from Saturday, Dec. 5, through the final day of the regular season Jan. 3.

The possession limit would also increase to 25 pheasants per hunter from the current 15.

The 2009 season has been difficult for hunters in many areas because of wet conditions and late harvests.

Sales of licenses for pheasant hunters are down somewhat across the board, according to the most current report available Monday.

2009 sales of nonresident small-game licenses stood at 87,088 compared to 90,902 one year ago.

South Dakota residents meanwhile have purchased 33,169 small-game licenses and 43,614 combination licenses so far this year, compared to 34,616 and 44,064 respectively last year at this time.

State Wildlife Division biologists said Monday it’s difficult to estimate how many more pheasants might be taken by hunters during the remaining season under the bigger limit.

They said hunters appear to average about 100,000 pheasants per week after the initial nine days of the season when pheasants and hunters alike are the most plentiful.

The proposal for the larger bag limits came from the Wildlife Division.

The commission’s discussion of the proposed emergency rule is scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Ramkota RiverCentre in Pierre.