How many of you let birds go?

[mstand]

PF put out an article suggesting that hunters could harvest 93 percent of pre-hunt rooster numbers without harming the population, and that such a high rate of harvest is very unusual, if not impossible. The article goes on to say that the normal range is 45-65 percent. Adding an average crippling loss of 10 percent means that 55-75 percent of roosters are often removed from the fall population. In states where significant harvest occurs (Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and South Dakota), rooster kill averages around 70 percent. Elsewhere, particularly in western states, fewer hunters and less interest usually result in a reduced harvest rate.

https://www.pheasantsforever.org/Habitat/Pheasant-Facts/Effects-of-Hunting.aspx

If this is true, what benefit is there to the overall rooster population by letting this year's young rooster get away?

For me? Just personal preference I guess. Not a tone of meat on a bird that young.
I do agree and have read the same results.

 

[gim]

I am sure that I am not the only one that can tell. Usually by lack of color, sound, and tail length. Guess I just been at it long enough to know.

I rarely hunt early in the season anymore because it's so hot these days but when I did, I could definitely tell a young rooster from a mature one. The younger ones didn't have full color. When I start hunting in November now, they all look the same to me on the wing. Obviously once you get one into your hands, the length of the spurs can be a dead giveaway.

 

[remy3424]

If it is pheasant season and there are some extremely late hatched "roosters", they will have a harder time surviving the coming winter than those older (bigger/stronger) birds. I will generally harvest or attempt to harvest, the first 3 roosters I can.

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

Doesn't take much color to distinguish a real young rooster from a hen. You get better at it with experience. If it's a rooster in range, I shoot at it. My dog likely worked pretty hard to find it & flush it. He deserves a chance to recover it. He couldn't care less how old or beautiful it is. Yes, mature birds make for more impressive pictures, but that's not reason enough for me to disappoint my dog.

 

[John Singer]

I will shoot (or at least shoot at) any legal bird that my dog points or flushes in range. (I have a pointing Lab.)

I offer the argument that it makes biological sense to shoot young birds, as more mature birds are better able to avoid predators and survive winter to breed the following spring.

 

[gim]

I will generally harvest or attempt to harvest, the first 3 roosters I can.

This is me too. Ours is only 2 daily though until Dec 1. Sometimes the hunt lasts half an hour.

 

[Mosby]

I pass on young deer, elk and bear but I only have two categories for pheasant...rooster and hen. I can't see well enough to age a bird in the air regardless.

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

This is me too. Ours is only 2 daily though until Dec 1. Sometimes the hunt lasts half an hour.

Even though Ace & I routinely see plenty of pheasants, the 30, 45, 60 minute hunts are fairly uncommon. Uncommon enough that I don't feel at all guilty when they do happen. If we're still wanting exercise, etc., we'll "hunt" longer with the gun in the truck.