Agreed. I'm assuming that there are some member farmers in most chapters who donate time and machinery use for the planting/harvest as well, which cuts down on overhead cost tredmendously.
Pheasants Forever on the wrong track???
- Thread starter moellermd
- Start date
Agreed. I'm assuming that there are some member farmers in most chapters who donate time and machinery use for the planting/harvest as well, which cuts down on overhead cost tredmendously.
wesslpointer
New member
Its my understanding that food plots let pheasants down when they need them the most they need some sort of cattle feeding operation to survive the worst weather. Nothing like a warm meal! poo I think frozen grain takes more energy to heat up inside the birds than they get out of it if they even can get to it. Do you know of any other ways they can also get a warm or warmer food source!
Wesselpointer, It's hard to believe, but I had the same conversation with a 75 year old farmer today. He and I are going to a PF landowner meeting in Seneca, Ks. next week. His farms are loaded with habitat, and he thinks the missing link is bad spring weather since 2007. But he also mentioned that as a kid in NW Iowa, they had pheasants galore, very little grass, but lots of feedlots, and groves to winter in. Feedlots are mostly gone, everything confinement now, so fewer birds. He and I agree, around Seneca, lots more cover now, a huge number of predators, but fewer birds than in the 70's and 80's, when there was no CRP. lots more prairie chickens though! Anyway, he would second the feedlot argument.
wesslpointer
New member
Ive seen the same thing plus wild turkeys running them out of the feed lots the few pheasants that are left that is. I wonder if a raised up solar panneld heated feeding station? I think the key is pre heat there food. Just brain storming. Let us know what you find Out.
SDJIM
New member
Food Plots
I have some areas that don't qualify for CRP type programs because they have no crop history. As much as I would like to plant CRP type cover I simply can't afford to do so. What I do however is plant food plots, some with State aid and some with PF help and some on my own. Because there are other landowners that provide habitat in my area we have a good ratio of nesting,annual crops,winter cover per section. I'm slowly adding to this mixture and food plots left up all winter help.
I have some areas that don't qualify for CRP type programs because they have no crop history. As much as I would like to plant CRP type cover I simply can't afford to do so. What I do however is plant food plots, some with State aid and some with PF help and some on my own. Because there are other landowners that provide habitat in my area we have a good ratio of nesting,annual crops,winter cover per section. I'm slowly adding to this mixture and food plots left up all winter help.
UGUIDE
Active member
I know how you feel on the cropping history sdjim. I was in same situation until they canged the cropping history years. Now I am able to complete the "farm the best buffer the rest" habitat plan for the farm.
You are right on about the value of food cover plots left up all winter. If they are done right they will out perform even the best warm season grass stands that get filled in by snow in the harsh winters.
mnmthunting
Banned
Been a brutal Winter in the Northern Pheasant range. [still going on]
Without the feeding of pheasants and the Cattle feeding and good food plots there would be few if any pheasants.
It's true, grasslands are worthless during normal northern winters. No feed in the cattails or brush.
Without the feeding of pheasants and the Cattle feeding and good food plots there would be few if any pheasants.
It's true, grasslands are worthless during normal northern winters. No feed in the cattails or brush.
wesslpointer
New member
What type of food plots do you feel our best for a "brutal winter" ? or is feeding better?
To survive a winter like this there better be a lot of trees. I think that milo might be the best because the seed is the highest thing on the plant. My corn has worked well but it is now buried. Milo would be buried too but they might be able to dig down and get something. 200 cows and a silage pile works really well.
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1pheas4
Moderator
You bring up cows. I noticed after our blizzard in in Illinois the pheasants were utilizing deer paths and areas were deer scrapped the snow from the ground.
Thinking about it, cattle probably severe the same purpose for pheasants. --1pheas4
I have not seen that on my operation but wherever I feed cows this winter the pheasants are there finding what ever they can. If there is a silage pile they will be all over the front of it picking out the kernels of corn. I appreciate that several here have mentioned that cattle help pheasants. New slogan for PF Save A Pheasant Eat A Steak.
quail hound
Moderator
I love it haymaker.:10sign: I'll eat a steak for you tonight!
They help turkeys out as well! Cattle - the savior of our wildlife!! :thumbsup:
And the EPA wants to tax them because of their gas.
Quail also like to eat and hangout around cattle and horses, because they breakdown cover and leave bare ground for dusting and easier running. I think the cattle provide some protection from predators as well, if for no other reason than confusing movement,masked scent, overhead screen. I used to hunt a grazed oat field in Kansas, of about 80 acres, had probably 40 head of yearlings on it, along with 4 huge quail coveys, and a pheasant or two. Other ungrazed patches of similar cover, had a few, but nothing like the cow pasture 80.
mnmthunting
Banned
Feeding is a very good thing. Put the feed near the cover, keep it up until a good snow melt.
Food plots have got to be big enough and enough quality to last until that big snow melt.
So what good does a food plot do for birds, if for instance it runs out or snowed over by December? Probably more bad then good.
Something like adding something to your all you can eat buffet, then starving for the next few months.
A good patch of thick, weedy, corn works pretty well. Enough acres and enough ears is the key.
captaincoot
Banned
Eat more steaks guys:thumbsup: I fell the main reason for pheasant decline in Iowa is the lose of cattle and even the raising of pigs outdoors. every farm use to have 5- 10 acre oats field which hens can nest and get a hatch off before cutting unlike hay fields most years. And in the winter hualing poop pheasant come over and and fill up on the good stuff.
Why does PF have to spend money on food plots anyway? I have yet to plant one and I get asked all the time if I need sorgum corn ect. free too Maybe they should ask me could save them some money. Its not that hard to find. Just another classic case of a good idea gone bad just like DU more office jobs less helping wildlife.
Why does PF have to spend money on food plots anyway? I have yet to plant one and I get asked all the time if I need sorgum corn ect. free too
Maybe they should ask me could save them some money. Its not that hard to find. Just another classic case of a good idea gone bad just like DU more office jobs less helping wildlife.
wesslpointer
New member
To me its pay back to the hunter PF members to inprove there hunting spots. I feel it would be better spent on public lands improvements.Eat more steaks guys:thumbsup: I fell the main reason for pheasant decline in Iowa is the lose of cattle and even the raising of pigs outdoors. every farm use to have 5- 10 acre oats field which hens can nest and get a hatch off before cutting unlike hay fields most years. And in the winter hualing poop pheasant come over and and fill up on the good stuff.
Why does PF have to spend money on food plots anyway? I have yet to plant one and I get asked all the time if I need sorgum corn ect. free too
UGUIDE
Active member
Coot, do you know why it is free and where it comes from? Good chance it is free because it came from PF.
captaincoot
Banned
Zero chance it's not from PF. I know people that work at or for seed companies after three years they get rid of the seed. Most worked up around north south dakota border and got access to all the good pheasant food crops. My one experience with PF this fall is they really don't care. Ordered seed paid for in full same day. promised deliverery in a few days so I could plant it this fall. Three weeks later they call went on vacation forgot your order guy. I'll go to the independent seed growers next time. Never cared for PF before and even less now. You guys want wildlife spend money on your own projects not raffles pheasants will thank you for it:thumbsup:
Plus zero knowledge on what mixes to use.
Plus zero knowledge on what mixes to use.