This might be kind of touchy with the recent post on falconry, but I want to get you guys' honest opinion on 2 things:
How much do you think hawks affect the pheasant and quail pop?
Do you feel like there should be a short hawk season to help curb the surplus population?
I will tell you that I really think the falconry stuff is cool, and have nothing against you if you do it. I personally feel like the hawk population is way out of hand and significantly affects bird #s
Hi JSMITH,
I'll weigh in because I started the thread of falconry in Kansas.
1. I don't think it effects the pheasant population at all. Quail really depends on the population cycle. But if quail go down so does the reproduction rate of raptors that use them as a food source.
2. I love raptors. But if there were a controlled hunting season (based of population densities) I would support it. If its legal I'm all for any form of hunting!
The bigger question I have is was is surplus population? Also as another member mentioned there are alot of species of hawks in the US. Its really only 3 species of accipiter (goshawks, coppers hawks, Sharp Shinned hawks) and 4 species of falcons (gyr, peregrine, prairie, merlin) that occasionally hunt pheasants/quail. A couple species you very rarely have in KS. Gyr's, peregrines, and goshawks are not normal residents with much of a local population. Merlins and SS hawks are way to small to ever bother a pheasant.
Interesting fact *Mortality rate is 70% for 1st year raptors*. That means 7 out of every 10 raptors that hatch will not make it to 1 year old.
Also very rarely will you ever see the above listed species unless you really look for them. Most of what you see is Red tail, ferruginous, rough legged hawks. Prairie falcons, and northern harriers. Of those prairies are the main bird hunter.
Also as said before there will never be a hunting season on raptors. They are all covered under the migratory bird treaty act. Same as any other song bird. Little known fact, if you pickup a blue jay feather (or any other songbird feather) in your back yard and bring it inside you have broken a federal law. Sounds crazy but that's how strict the MBTA is.
You should see the vast amount of permits and paperwork we have to have just to get a live raptor. Even a captive bred bird not from the wild.
At the end of the day its all about habitat. Better habitat means more wildlife. Support local clubs and landowners and you will see more game despite any type of natural predators. :cheers:
Thanks,
Chase