Spring Breeder Hens......

BeirlSetters

BeirlSetters

Member
I am curious to know if anyone would have any information on any groups or local PF chapters in the southeastern part(below I-90) of the South Dakota that supplement the pheasant population by putting out breeder hens in the spring? I am interested in possibly making a donation to help the cause. I would appreciate any information that anyone could provide........


:thumbsup:
 
We aren't to that point;). There's still birds. Even in the worst hit areas of SD, there's birds. Nothing like we've seen these past few years, but they are out there. Winter permitting, the breeders will be in good number and we'll be on our way to another season. Let's hope for cooler temps and some rain this summer:)
 
beirlsetters,
have you heard of this actually working before? Also have you heard about the quail and pheasant restoration technology hatcherys? I'm not sure if these work either, but I'm curious to know if they do. If they do work, they might not be a bad option to use down here in Kansas where the numbers are low.
 
kansaslabman said:
beirlsetters,
have you heard of this actually working before? Also have you heard about the quail and pheasant restoration technology hatcherys? I'm not sure if these work either, but I'm curious to know if they do. If they do work, they might not be a bad option to use down here in Kansas where the numbers are low.
Click to expand...

The restoration technology, is a scheme designed to help you rid yourself of money quickly. It is a glorious brooder house though! For areas without power. Releasing few week old chicks, from a protected habitat, in to the wild will be the same, whether they we raised in your basement or not. Only valuation of the "brooder", it provides a food source anchor to keep them around, and no transportation cost from your garage. 100 birds will end up as 20, maybe? others end up as food morsels to the visitors at the "brooder" who stop by to get drive through service. Bigger birds, result in better introduction, marginally, those the results are poor performers, dollar for dollar. If birds are not in a habitat, why would releasing birds matter? If birds could live there, they would be there now, to increase your birds, habitat is the only way anyone has found. So if you release birds, in a certain area where birds exist naturally, some will survive, they compete with the natural birds, might reduce the survival of natural birds, compete for cover, food, and diseases they may bring with them. At the end of the experiment, over the years, you will have as many birds as you had day one. Now if you establish cover, where there was none, and re-introduce birds there. That's different. But I suspect there will be natural birds find and use the new habitat, and save you the transplanting effort. If there are a few birds around. It may surprise you to find out the experts believe it takes a township, (32 square miles), to mantain a "huntable" population of quail. You can maintain a covey or two, on the back forty, I have done it for years. But they are seed stock, for when cover exists to expand. Point them with the dog, no harvesting, or they will be gone. This factor has depressed me for the last 6 months, and is believeable based on the quail population all across the nation. It's a long hard slough to wade through, we are impatient people, trying to make up for natural patterns and circumstances which took eons of time. I now try to buy or rectify some acres permanently which will sustain 1 covey of quail annually, 20@ here, 80@ there. Hoping we can keep the fire burning for better times!
 
I personally would not give my money to something like that. I agree with a donation to PF would be a better use of the money. Tossing out hens in the spring would be a short term solution to a long term problem. Your money would be better spent on a rainmaker:rolleyes:
 
I think I will pass on the rainmaker..... It's never surprising the comment or replies to a serious question. I am just trying to help the cause, like I stated earlier. I had heard that some people do this to supplement the breeders in the spring. Just like the vast majority on here, it's not just about the 3 weeks I spend in SD in the fall, it's about what happen's all year long.

UGuide- I am a member already but will look into the lifetime memebership. I guess I never thought about that direction. I agree it will be better $$$ spent. Thanks!
 
BeirlSetters said:
I think I will pass on the rainmaker..... It's never surprising the comment or replies to a serious question. I am just trying to help the cause, like I stated earlier. I had heard that some people do this to supplement the breeders in the spring. Just like the vast majority on here, it's not just about the 3 weeks I spend in SD in the fall, it's about what happen's all year long.

UGuide- I am a member already but will look into the lifetime memebership. I guess I never thought about that direction. I agree it will be better $$$ spent. Thanks!
Click to expand...

You have a serious question but the official PF response on this and any type of stocking is it is a proven documented waste of money, time and resources. $ need to go into habitat.
 
Thanks for all the shared knowledge guys. Guess I won't be investing in one of these restoration technologies anytime soon.
 
Chris,

Once again thanks for the info. I completely understand it's about the habitat. I think I will take another step beyond just membership and try to get more involved with the local chapter in my area out there. I normally attend their banquet in late Oct while out hunting. I have even donated a puppy or two for their banquet auctions. Any thing I can do to give back to the resource......
 
If Your in an area with no habitat and no pheasants, the first thing for sure is get the habitat. Takes a while, at least a year. Once the habitat is in place then Spring releasing pheasants will work out. Depends a lot on predation how successful reproduction is.
It's true, that if Your in Pheasant Country and You provide the year around habitat, the Pheasants will be there.
 
I have a real problem with the position that Pheasants Forever takes on the releasing of breeder birds!!!!!!

Nothing in this world stays the same. The age old theories preached by the establishment has just allowed states such as Illinois to justify doing absolutely nothing at all to help the phesant population other than collect the upland licence fees and put it in somebodies pocket.

I work for the IDNR and spend every day in the field working in central Illinois and have not seen a state biologist in the field ever!!!!!

I don't know how many acres are under the control of the IDNR but the number has to be considerable, and absolutely nothing is done with habitat or the release of breeding birds in the state.

I commend states like Pennsylvania who are at least making an attempt at re stocking. When I became aware of their program I attempted to call 3 Pheasant Forever employees for information (2 in IL. and 1 in PENN.) and my calls have never been returned. Probably not a good way to run a business!!!! Even if only 10% of the birds made it that would be 10% that we didn't have yesterday.

I think some of these age old theories should be revisited from time to time. I have a hard time understanding how we can put a man on the moon, but a few Pheasants in Illinois is a total impossability?????

Thanks

High Brass
 
High Brass said:
I have a real problem with the position that Pheasants Forever takes on the releasing of breeder birds!!!!!!

Nothing in this world stays the same. The age old theories preached by the establishment has just allowed states such as Illinois to justify doing absolutely nothing at all to help the phesant population other than collect the upland licence fees and put it in somebodies pocket.

I work for the IDNR and spend every day in the field working in central Illinois and have not seen a state biologist in the field ever!!!!!

I don't know how many acres are under the control of the IDNR but the number has to be considerable, and absolutely nothing is done with habitat or the release of breeding birds in the state.

I commend states like Pennsylvania who are at least making an attempt at re stocking. When I became aware of their program I attempted to call 3 Pheasant Forever employees for information (2 in IL. and 1 in PENN.) and my calls have never been returned. Probably not a good way to run a business!!!! Even if only 10% of the birds made it that would be 10% that we didn't have yesterday.

I think some of these age old theories should be revisited from time to time. I have a hard time understanding how we can put a man on the moon, but a few Pheasants in Illinois is a total impossability?????

Thanks

High Brass
Click to expand...

I encourage new ideas! I have been denigrated here before, but the pheasants ALL came out of a cage! In the USA. I realize the theory is they were wild origin birds, but the Romans and Chinese were breeding them since old Roman empire. At least they were in a cage for awhile! At the end of the day, if we don't have superior habitat, no bird releases will solve the problem. I am sorry to say, in Missouri, Illinois, other areas. There is no will by the states to make pheasants a priority. Deer and Turkey are big money earners, us bird hunters, few though there are, are not the noise for conservation. Exceptions being Penn., and S.D. Pheasants Forever makes the issue public, and does more to encourage the states and Feds. to make arrangements for upland game. Mulitipling the dollars by many fold!
 
Bird release done the right way has been proven to work great over and over again and again. I see it out the front door day in and day out. PF is great, better if you can get them to do that good work with out killing our hunting dogs with Canada rye in the process. Both can work hand in hand. I was a PF nut bag, and also our family in MN pheasants. But not a dime will be put back from me again to PF till the dog killing seeds stop being put in the ground for cheap instant gratification. It is poor winter cover with little to no value. our Dogs are why we do this. PF needs to wake up. They have started, but still practice stupidity. So for now, Putting my money into sticking full grown birds on private land that sustains them well works great for my hunting desires.:thumbsup:
 
PS local sportsmans clubs here auction off bred hens here every year and people release them with care and direction in places that it works. The reports are outstanding.:thumbsup: If you want info on where when and why PM me. Glad to help.
 
BeirlSetters said:
Chris,

Once again thanks for the info. I completely understand it's about the habitat. I think I will take another step beyond just membership and try to get more involved with the local chapter in my area out there. I normally attend their banquet in late Oct while out hunting. I have even donated a puppy or two for their banquet auctions. Any thing I can do to give back to the resource......
Click to expand...

That's excellent! Thanks for your efforts and contributions.
 
Gentlemen, the release of breeders hens "might" work. However, this and the surrogator are other limited solutions and nothing more than a distraction from true north which is conservation and habitat which creates serious sustainable wild bird populations. HUNTABLE populations.....

This why PF makes its position known and why I am also in support of it.

The world has no shortage of spins, distractions and derailing comments. We could use a few more people aligned with true north as far as huntable wild pheasant populations are concerned.
 
Last edited:
Surrogators do not work. Releasing chicks don't work. Adult healthy birds do work at the right times. If the comment about derailing was directed at me Chris, sorry. But PF is one of the core root problems as to why most of the new CRP plantings are not huntable to many who care about their dogs. Until yours has been on a table at the U, dishing out 11 grand one does not understand. I feel very strong about the noble work they do, and stronger that when we see most everything new going in containing this deadly toxin, that it is bad for hunting in the future. No if ands or buts about it. The word needs to get out, It needs to stop and save hunting. It is sad when you drive around looking for hunting ground or trial grounds, get permission, and only go to see that stuff I will not let a dog set foot in. Great habitat sure. But not suited for mans best friend. I will buy life memberships for my whole family again if they change their ways. Believe me, I have been around and around with them about this factual subject.
 
Last edited:
FCSpringer said:
Surrogators do not work. Releasing chicks don't work. Adult healthy birds do work at the right times. If the comment about derailing was directed at me Chris, sorry. But PF is one of the core root problems as to why most of the new CRP plantings are not huntable to many who care about their dogs. Until yours has been on a table at the U, dishing out 11 grand one does not understand. I feel very strong about the noble work they do, and stronger that when we see most everything new going in containing this deadly toxin, that it is bad for hunting in the future. No if ands or buts about it. The word needs to get out, It needs to stop and save hunting. It is sad when you drive around looking for hunting ground or trial grounds, get permission, and only go to see that stuff I will not let a dog set foot in. Great habitat sure. But not suited for mans best friend. I will buy life memberships for my whole family again if they change their ways. Believe me, I have been around and around with them about this factual subject.
Click to expand...

Nothing directed at you FCS. As far as the seeds go. I had some put on my CRP acres and PF had nothing to do with it.
 
Last edited:
10-4 sorry again. Get it eradicated. Best advice I will ever give you. Not only as a friend and fellow conservasionist. But as a bussiness owner as well. The word is getting out more and more. People are not hunting game farms here now that have it in there fields. To many and many more to come, it just is not worth the $, dogs life, and or costly vet bills on a dog for a few days recreation. And soon advertising mean seed free is going to be a huge selling point.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top