Report banded pheasants

bauerline

bauerline

Well-known member
I'm sure some people already saw this but it is worth posting.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/porta...ses/newsrelease/articles/release__075_15.html

HUNTERS URGED TO REPORT BANDED PHEASANTS
About 5,500 ringnecks have been marked as part of Game Commission study to assess harvest rates.

Pheasant hunting in Pennsylvania kicks off Saturday with the weeklong season for junior hunters, followed by the statewide opening day for pheasants Oct. 24.
With the season nearly here, hunters are advised that some of the pheasants they find in the field might have leg bands. And by reporting those birds, hunters can provide important information as part of a study into pheasant harvest rates.
This fall, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is conducting a study to assess harvest rates of ring-necked pheasants raised on game farms, then released to provide hunting opportunities in Pennsylvania.
Game Commission wildlife biometrician Josh Johnson said about 5,500 pheasants are being banded and, over the course of the season, will be released on public lands along with more than 200,000 non-banded pheasants.
Each leg band is stamped with a toll-free number hunters can call to provide the date and location of harvest.
Johnson said hunter participation is crucial to the success of the study, and he urged all hunters who bag banded pheasants to report their harvests. Further, any banded pheasants found dead from other causes, such as being hit by a vehicle, also should be reported, as this information is very important to us as well, Johnson said.
Based on their track record, Johnson said he anticipates Pennsylvania?s hunters will report their birds.
?We rely on hunters in conducting many of our studies, and we survey many of our hunters each year to learn more about how their hunting seasons went and gauge their opinions on topics, and year after year they step up,? Johnson said. ?Hunting is an important part of the lives of many Pennsylvanians, and I expect the state?s pheasant hunters will show us just that through their reporting of banded birds.?
A similar study on pheasant harvest rates was conducted in the fall of 1998. That study found about 50 percent of pheasants stocked by the Game Commission were harvested.
Since then, however, many changes to pheasant-stocking strategies have been implemented. These changes aim for higher harvest rates, but harvest rates have not been evaluated since the changes took place.
The Game Commission will use the results of this fall?s study, not only to determine pheasant harvest rates, but also to assess where opportunities exist to maximize the number of hunter-harvested pheasants through changes in stocking strategies.
 
I am extremely grateful towards the PGC and the commitment they have made to upland hunting and in particular pheasants. They have continued the tradition and helped the ringneck remain "King" in Pennsylvania and this fall around 100,000 hunters will hit the fields in pursuit of pheasants! It doesn't get much cooler than that when it comes to upland hunting here in the east. This Saturday we will be going up to camp to try to get on some grouse and while It's something I also care about it doesn't even come close to pheasant hunting. We have made a continuous effort year after year to increase the habitat at our camp and it's actually great habitat for grouse. Imagine what could be possible if the grouse and woodcock community stopped blaming everyone else besides themselves and actually formed meaningful relationships with members of the PGC and us fellow upland hunters. We have all seen what cooperation can do and I have really enjoyed working alongside fellow hunters!
I hope everyone enjoys the season and reaps some of the rewards from all the hard work that PGC and PF have put forth over the years because in my mind these are the golden years!:cheers:
 
1998 Hay that brings back great memories of my first Lab I hunted him by myself at Six months old he was the best Duck and pheasant dog I've ever own. I still have the tags from his first year on my lanyard.lol Don't tell Drake.lol

 
Nice collection, I have accumulated quite a few over the years. I remember one that I got was taken over 10 miles from the release site!

Don't worry we'll keep your secret from Drake! :)
 
Banded pheasant

I've been reading all the posts about the bands, so I just have to let some of you know, that I shot a hen the first Monday on SGL 272 in Warren County, and it was banded.
This is just a side note to the bands. One year, first day of dove season, my college and boy hood friends, get together for our dove reunion. Walled in our favorite dove area, and I see a dove flying over. Pulled up a down she comes, and further inspection, a small band was attached to one leg. Laid the dove in my bag, paying no attention to it. The first day, turned out to be disappointing, so I had time to kill. Took that only dove, and saw the tiny band, and began to read what it had to say. I had to look twice, but there was a reward for $100 dollars for returning the information. Call it in, and received a check for $100 dollars. Couple years latter, shot another dove in the same field, and it also was banded, but no reward.
It's nice to follow the trail of these birds, and I will call my band into the State Game Comm.
Please keep up the good work, so we may continue to have pheasants in the future. Chuck Isaac New Castle PA.
 
Thanks for the report and interesting story Chuck. :thumbsup:
 
Still time to report those birds..PGC News Release


"HUNTERS REMINDED TO REPORT HARVESTED BANDED PHEASANTS
About 5,500 stocked ringnecks wore ?jewelry? during the past hunting season to assess harvest rates.


The Pennsylvania Game Commission is finalizing a study to assess harvest rates of ring-necked pheasants raised on game farms, then released to provide hunting opportunities in Pennsylvania.
Game Commission wildlife biometrician Josh Johnson said about 5,500 pheasants were banded before release on public lands last fall.
It?s crucial for the success of this study that hunters report leg band information from harvested birds, or even from those found dead from other causes, by March 31, 2016, by calling the toll-free number on the band.
Johnson said he?s pleased with the reporting response so far, as more than 2,000 bands have been reported.
?We thank all the dedicated hunters who have taken the time to report their pheasant bands. Reporting bands provides important information that will be used to assess future stocking strategies, and it shows support for the pheasant stocking program,? he said.
A similar study on pheasant harvest rates was conducted in the fall of 1998. That study found about 50 percent of pheasants stocked by the Game Commission were harvested.
Since then, however, many changes to pheasant-stocking strategies have been implemented. These changes aim for higher harvest rates, but harvest rates have not been evaluated since the changes took place.
Results from this current study will shed further light to redefine the pheasant-stocking program.
A report summarizing the analyzed data from the leg bands should be available this fall.

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I didn't come across any banded birds. But some members of our PF chapter shot one banded bird that came with a $100 reward. They donated the money to our chapter, so that was nice.
 
I hunted in central PA and Northeast PA where 2 of my hunting partners each shot a banded bird. Both roosters and both late season. One was shot in February. It was stocked in October supposedly. That was longer than I expected to survive
 
Welcome to the site Diehardpheasant.

Those birds are pretty resilient, I've seen them last till the next fall, it's in the reproduction where the issues lay.

Do you have a dog?
 
Unfortunately, the "hay days" of wild pheasant natural reproduction and hunting in Pennsylvania like in the '50s and '60s is long gone. :(

I loved hearing the roosters cackling in late Spring. Nesting season was soon to come and then great hunting in the Fall. Shot more roosters while running behind my Beagles than I ever did behind a bird dog. :)
 
I guess a lot of States could say the same thing. I was lucky enough to have experienced the "hay days" and yes it was great, but I'm not enjoying it any less now. It's hard to beat good company, a good dog, and a Fall afternoon afield.
 
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