State released pheasant

[Goosemaster]

I dont believe they live long enough to reproduce. Im against it but there are states that could benefit from it by getting more $ from hunters and use that to produce more habitat. Imo that money usually lines the big guy at the office pocket or goes to some dumbass water trampoline at a lake. *Nebraska*

I can't understand some states doing it, cuz they don't really have any wild pheasants, but I do not understand a state like Montana doing it.

 

[Goosemaster]

I can understand some states doing it.

 

[Goosemaster]

Montana says it's to recruit young hunters so that they have early success. I think Young hunters should be pursuing wild birds, so that they have realistic expectations.

 

[Makintrax73]

One of the very few things the IL DNR seems to get consistently right is their pheasant farm. The birds might be a step down from wild, but it isn't a huge step down.

The biggest issue is the way they concentrate hunters into small areas so they don't have to drive the release trucks all over. On a weekday with nothing to do it's $40 well spent and doesn't require an 6 or 8 hour drive for a chance at public land wild birds.

 

[Makintrax73]

Montana says it's to recruit young hunters so that they have early success. I think Young hunters should be pursuing wild birds, so that they have realistic expectations.

I see more birds per mile on good private land (in IL mind you, not SD) than on the state put and take areas. And it's not even close. Like 5x more birds. The issue is getting access to good private land, and the fact that 90% of the pheasant range here is farmed road to road, sprayed with RoundUp, and contaminated with NeoNics.

 

[3birds]

Stocked birds do not dilute the population because they don't live long enough to do it. They have zero natural escapability or survival instincts.

Anyone who thinks that chasing flair nares is similar to hunting wild birds needs their head examined.

Clearly there are two factors that improve wild upland bird populations: 1) habitat, and 2) weather. Planting pseudos does nothing to aid populations.

That being said, they are very good at serving one purpose: training a young dog because they are dumb and guarantee success.

Agree, but some do survive
That's how they got here

 

[3birds]

pheasant forever article:

12 week old released birds-- presumed roosters and into decent habitat
60% survival at 1 week
25% at 1 mo
5-10 % at start of winter

spring released hens
50 % get a chance to nest
5-40 chicks per 100 related hens

wild hens average 4 chicks per hen survive to 10 weeks

intense habitat management and nest predator control do help tremendously
these are believable numbers

take that for what it is worth

pheasant forever article:

12 week old released birds-- presumed roosters and into decent habitat
60% survival at 1 week
25% at 1 mo
5-10 % at start of winter

spring released hens
50 % get a chance to nest
5-40 chicks per 100 related hens

wild hens average 4 chicks per hen survive to 10 weeks

intense habitat management and nest predator control do help tremendously
these are believable numbers

take that for what it is worth