Upland4Ever
New member
Between habitat and bird numbers down are we slowly losing bird hunting?
Pheasants going out
- Thread starter Upland4Ever
- Start date
mustistuff
Banned
hunting
wrong, the hunting is still there and in places like kansas there are over a millions acres to wander around on, the killing part is what has changed so you had better get used to it, also might try and get in shape so that you can truly hunt a longer day, does have some benefits like exercise, health, being with friends, dogs and seeing other wild life and when things are tough out there the greatest path to success in time in the field, it always works, ya ought to try it someday
cheers
wrong, the hunting is still there and in places like kansas there are over a millions acres to wander around on, the killing part is what has changed so you had better get used to it, also might try and get in shape so that you can truly hunt a longer day, does have some benefits like exercise, health, being with friends, dogs and seeing other wild life and when things are tough out there the greatest path to success in time in the field, it always works, ya ought to try it someday
cheers
Prairie Drifter
Well-known member
Our bird populations have mirrored the farm bill over the years in the cropland states. When it's profitable to farm, they farm it all and double crop and leave little for our birds. When it isn't profitable to farm and the farm bill offers options, we see a resurgance of the habitat and birds. As the cost of chemicals and fuel goes up, we will probably see some tide turning again, but right now they are making good money and in the "feed the world" mentality.
mustistuff
Banned
support stuff
not to cause an argument but what native specie gets support or even blather except the sage grouse, guail are suffering even worse around the country and their range is far greater than that of the pheasant yet quail don't nearly get hunters excited like pheasants do. i would bet that more time and effort has been expended on pheasants than all other birds combined except waterfowl. let's get this going
cheers
not to cause an argument but what native specie gets support or even blather except the sage grouse, guail are suffering even worse around the country and their range is far greater than that of the pheasant yet quail don't nearly get hunters excited like pheasants do. i would bet that more time and effort has been expended on pheasants than all other birds combined except waterfowl. let's get this going
cheers
Prairie Drifter
Well-known member
Musti, Uguide meant from research and game bird clubs. There are any number of quail backing clubs and organizations, pheasants have usually just PF. Quail have had QU, QF, QUWF, Tall Timbers, The Rolling Plains Research group, and many more.
Your worng sir, PD is correct. Your statment about Quail is total BS. You never state that you are a part of any, conservation group. A hell of a lot of us are, not just members, but directors in chapters and nationally. Quail get a hell of a lot of us FIRED UP TO THE POINT THAT WE SPEND MONEY and time to address the problem. We worry about Pheasants also, Quit being a troll on the internet. Can not see how you contribute to this forum. Sorry but that's the facts JACK.
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mustistuff
Banned
olives and pheasants
you are right, both are here to stay at least in some numbers, i believe that most wildlife managers wish the olive's didn't exist, true they do provide shelter but they also provide wonderful perches for prey birds, while some the the olive's don't get big enough, some are large enough for tree stands, owl's particularly like them in my neck of the woods. mostly now days they are looked at as death traps
cheers
you are right, both are here to stay at least in some numbers, i believe that most wildlife managers wish the olive's didn't exist, true they do provide shelter but they also provide wonderful perches for prey birds, while some the the olive's don't get big enough, some are large enough for tree stands, owl's particularly like them in my neck of the woods. mostly now days they are looked at as death traps
cheers
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
mnmthunting
Banned
Russian Olives bushes are by NO MEANS good perches for Raptors.
Unreal type comment.
Light bushy limbs, thick, leafy.
By no means good lookouts for raptors.
Again! strange uninformed comments.
Unreal type comment.
Light bushy limbs, thick, leafy.
By no means good lookouts for raptors.
Again! strange uninformed comments.
Next time you hear that line tell them that refuge managers aren't native either.
BRITTMAN
Well-known member
Prairie Drifter
Well-known member
One of the problems with Russian Olives that seems to be missed in this thread is the fact they won't stay where you put them. They have a strong tendency to spread resulting in ever increasing maintenance costs to control them. This is similar to cedar, Siberian Elm, Osage Orange, and both Black and Honey Locust. Once some of these species get a foot hold, they can take over large expanses of land degrading the native habitat for cattle, game, and even humans. The costs of cedars in Oklahoma and other states is immense! It blocks up to 85% of rainfall from reaching the ground, then gobbles up what does. It creates a fire hazard for human, wildlife, and livestock habitation. It is responsible for significant pollen production that irritates people far and wide. Infestations lower property value and reduce the land's carrying capacity for most species of wildlife. Have you ever looked at what species grows under Siberian Elm trees? It is usually dominated by Downy Brome (cheat).
Now for pheasants. It is amazing that folks exotics when the habitat that they are adapted to is just as exotic. The reason they have flourished in part of the country is because "WE" destroyed most of the native habitat and replaced it with agricultural habitats that never existed here in the first place. They established, then flourished in the new habitat because most native species were obligate rangeland species. Though ag habitats are used by our native gamebirds, they only fill partial niches for those species. In a landscape dominated by agriculture, some ofthese species dwindle and disappear. It is important the everyone view introduced species in the context of the whole. They are valuable because they fill a niche that would otherwise not hold much.
Now for pheasants. It is amazing that folks exotics when the habitat that they are adapted to is just as exotic. The reason they have flourished in part of the country is because "WE" destroyed most of the native habitat and replaced it with agricultural habitats that never existed here in the first place. They established, then flourished in the new habitat because most native species were obligate rangeland species. Though ag habitats are used by our native gamebirds, they only fill partial niches for those species. In a landscape dominated by agriculture, some ofthese species dwindle and disappear. It is important the everyone view introduced species in the context of the whole. They are valuable because they fill a niche that would otherwise not hold much.
This is spot on. Pd is right on the point. It's a tread off and it isn't a good one. Habitat but one that works for ever animal out there, and land owners. Please find some sort of reality in this argument. We all won't Birds, but we all don't own land. The point of owning land is to make money. I own a few section in a few state's, I have to figure out how to make my land, make me money. Bird's are a concern , However feeding my family is a greater concern.
OKIEGunner
New member
Prairie Drifter
Spot on again, the non-indigenous introduced species do adversely affect the habitats and they eventually can invade economically, environmentally, and/or ecologically. Such invasive species potentially disrupt by dominating a area or region habitats let alone the loss of natural controls (such as predators or herbivores). Some of these species that disrupt by a dominant colonization. All species compete to survive, invasive species appear to have specific traits or specific combinations of traits that allow them to outcompete native species. I would say that Siberian Elm, Osage Orange, and both Black and Honey Locust were used for deer management practices.
My regular hunting partner (bro-in-law) and myself have had no problems ever in all our years getting birds. Almost always limits. Even in the down years. We hunt western MN and SD near the Missouri river. We've just really gotten to know the areas (almost to the point that they are boring) and are prepared to walk all day. I guess this doesn't answer the OP's question but I'm 46 now and have been bird hunting since I was 12. I've always seen plenty of birds and never even thought of an extinction of pheasants. I doubt the DNR would let that happen. Maybe I just have better dogs and more of them.
All I know is every time I went to Northeastern Colorado last season, I was asking myself "where is the cover needed for the phez to survive a blizzard"? Eventually the draught will end and the birds will come back, but I think this season is going to be really bleak. Hope I'm wrong.
Growing up, in central Texas, my old man always had a bird dog and there were quail everywhere. 45 yrs later, all the pastures are planted in coastal bermuda and there are zero wild quail.
Growing up, in central Texas, my old man always had a bird dog and there were quail everywhere. 45 yrs later, all the pastures are planted in coastal bermuda and there are zero wild quail.
mustistuff
Banned
death traps
coming from a guy with your experience on this forum to make your own uninformed comments about raptors and their use of russian olive trees is off the mark. if you had done your homework you would have easily found that the following raptor type birds use them on a regular basis and some of those birds are in fact: black crowned night heron, osprey, bald eagle, sharp-shinned hawk, coopers hawk, northern goshawk, red tailed hawk, kestrals, barn owls, horned owls, barred owls and many more, why do they do this, one is of course for a place to sit and rest but in most part is because of the hunting opportunities that the trees create. if i can in fact build a tree stand in one, surely a owl can find a place to sit. that sir is why these tress are death traps and i am surprised that you don't realize it. all of this can easily be found in studies on game bird managemant
cheers
coming from a guy with your experience on this forum to make your own uninformed comments about raptors and their use of russian olive trees is off the mark. if you had done your homework you would have easily found that the following raptor type birds use them on a regular basis and some of those birds are in fact: black crowned night heron, osprey, bald eagle, sharp-shinned hawk, coopers hawk, northern goshawk, red tailed hawk, kestrals, barn owls, horned owls, barred owls and many more, why do they do this, one is of course for a place to sit and rest but in most part is because of the hunting opportunities that the trees create. if i can in fact build a tree stand in one, surely a owl can find a place to sit. that sir is why these tress are death traps and i am surprised that you don't realize it. all of this can easily be found in studies on game bird managemant
cheers