There are already alot of turkeys in SD, what you guys aren't saying is in those same states you talk about losing pheasants are the same states that don't have any damn habitat. Blame the loss of habitat, not the turkeys. West river SD fall turkey seasons is open until January and I can go shoot two turkeys and three pheasant on the same farm on the same day. Personally turkey hunting isn't very sporting and has no trill out here as you just have to drive out to a ranchers feed bunk and you will find all turkeys you want. I would hope everyone here knows that that the loss of habitat is the biggest reason pheasant numbers have fallen in the aforementioned states in this thread. Blaming turkeys rather than habitat is just barking up the wrong tree. You could kill every turkey in IA, IL, IN, WI and MO and the pheasant numbers aren't going to rebound without better habitat.
Ya know Wirehairs, you're absolutely correct. Thank you for reminding me of the true problem - habitat. Foolish of me to stray from my mantra. There is no reason both species can't coexist, given the proper habitat.
The problem is that pheasant habitat is relatively expensive (be it through maintenance or out of production farm land) to maintain as opposed to a mature forest. Real easy to forget about a wood lot and let it mature to the point that it is good for nothing other than squirrels and turkeys. Not so for pheasant habitat. And there in lies the problem.
Sadly (tearfully actually) I am coming to grips with the fact that my 2 and 4 year old boys will likely never know what it is to hunt a wild pheasant, least wise not in MI. Even more sadly, I fear that their children will view grouse in much the same manner as the MI pheasant is now. Grouse hunting is good in MI right now. But the trends don't look good for the future. Unless there is significant change in forest management, I fear that the grouse will become the next pheasant.
Just not enough money involved, least wise not here in MI. Turkeys and WT are KING. I got out of deer hunting because I grew tired of the chest pounding "my rack is bigger than yours" mentality. Sadly, I think we are headed straight down the path of a successful hunt being measured in inches,
be it bone or beard. Upland tradition is by and large lost.
So we can place the blame wherever we want. Turkeys, DNR, COs, habitat, farming, logging, etc. The fact of the matter is that we just can't afford the wild pheasant anymore. Doesn't fit in with corporate America.
Lest we forget the golden rule. He who has the most gold, makes the rules.
BTW, I had a particularly piss poor day at the office today and am feeling rather defeated. I'm sure that is reflected in the sentiment of this post. Hopefully I will get up on the right side of the bed tomorrow and fight the good fight. Right now, just not feeling it....