State wildlife officials are set to decide next week whether to raise South Dakota's three-bird daily pheasant bag limit to five cock pheasants daily.

The Game, Fish & Parks Commission will discuss the matter at its meeting in Pierre Dec. 3-4. Under the proposal, the current 15-bird pheasant possession limit would increase to 25 male pheasants.

The proposal is being considered because of the delayed harvest of crops this fall due to wet weather. The large amount of standing crops has provided cover for birds and hampered hunters.

If the emergency rule is adopted, it would take effect Saturday, Dec. 5, and remain in place until the pheasant season ends next Jan. 3.