Pheasants this winter, how are they doing ?

[harvey lee]

I will say this, the game farm's are a great way to hunt birds all season. It's also a great place to get a young dog on birds.

I have belonged to Ph for 25 years but the game farms are a great way to extend ones season.

PF can only do so much as the gov's farm policies like CRP will do more than anything. All the feeding and nesting and woody cover is great that Pf does but we really need the farm policies to allow the cover like we had in the 60's to really get the birds population up.

[CrappiesNCats]

I don't usually see birds around New Prague, but I've seen more in the last month than I did all of last winter.

Saw a mix of 20-30 birds along 19 yesterday and on the way home saw about 10 more.

[pureinsanity]

I don't usually see birds around New Prague, but I've seen more in the last month than I did all of last winter.

Saw a mix of 20-30 birds along 19 yesterday and on the way home saw about 10 more.

To be honest the np area has lots of birds. I know several private places where the birds thrive. but there is also lots of places that hold birds that are public. I know the golf course holds lots of birds. But you gotta know someone to get on there.

[eckum54]

Harvey has it exactly right...needed to get my new dog on some birds and this is a great way to do it...also I saw the comment that you shouldn't go to a game farm unless your board or rich...well this also is imo a bad representation. First for 4 guys to get 20 birds it cost 65 bucks each. Now I don't know about you but to me for a day of good times this isn't a hell of a lot of money, second the birds that golden meadows puts out aren't small birds by any means, and if you don't believe me go there once and prove wrong because we had several with 3/4 to almost an inch long spurs. All I can say is that I had fun and it was a great way to train my dog and put some rounds through my new shotgun

[lakesbison]

I drove from breckenridge to wheaton to elbow lake last week,

i saw 3 here, 5 there, 3 there, all of them out on the road (i have a bad feeling thats the only way they can get food) ive never seen so many on the main roads i guess is what i am saying.

[pureinsanity]

Harvey has it exactly right...needed to get my new dog on some birds and this is a great way to do it...also I saw the comment that you shouldn't go to a game farm unless your board or rich...well this also is imo a bad representation. First for 4 guys to get 20 birds it cost 65 bucks each. Now I don't know about you but to me for a day of good times this isn't a hell of a lot of money, second the birds that golden meadows puts out aren't small birds by any means, and if you don't believe me go there once and prove wrong because we had several with 3/4 to almost an inch long spurs. All I can say is that I had fun and it was a great way to train my dog and put some rounds through my new shotgun

13 dollars a bird is pretty cheap! around here its 17-22$ a bird depending where you go. not to mention some places require you to be a member. as for birds size. im not talking long tail feathers and big spurs. im talking about some birds are the size of a big grouse, others seem like they are less than a year old.

also you don't even get the birds back you shoot. the places ive been to give you the amount of birds you shot already packaged and frozen.

[eckum54]

The place we go is called golden meadows game farm, and I have always been impressed. No membership fee and you get to keep the birds you shoot. He raises his own birds and waits till they are about 2-3 years old before he releases them. He has I believe it to about 800 acres devided up into about 7 or 8 fields with verying types of cover from marsh to corn to treelined creek beds. As for right now he is running a deal for 20 or more birds the ar 12.75 apiece other wise this time of the year they normaly run 17.75. Golden meadows is located near cold spring and like I said I have never been disapointed

[CaptainBly]

So, the guys that are worried about the pheasant numbers declining are you going the hunt less this fall. I don't think so. I know everybody has the right to hunt as much as they want to. Just saying that maybe a little less may benefit down the road. There were guys hunting hard till the end of the season, stomping through deep snow for them. Did that help the birds? I think that the season should be shorter like it used to be. Not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers.

[jparrucci]

Wildlife biologist have said that hunting, particularly the taking of roosters, has little to know effects on the next years breeding pheasant numbers. In fact, roostesr tend to push the hens out of the prime habbitat, and by killing a rooster, you may be in fact saving an egg laying hen.

[pureinsanity]

So, the guys that are worried about the pheasant numbers declining are you going the hunt less this fall. I don't think so. I know everybody has the right to hunt as much as they want to. Just saying that maybe a little less may benefit down the road. There were guys hunting hard till the end of the season, stomping through deep snow for them. Did that help the birds? I think that the season should be shorter like it used to be. Not trying to ruffle anyone's feathers.

I bought a license and a stamp and didn't even hunt once this year for roosters. I bet I didn't help save anymore birds though.

[harvey lee]

Pure, you must do a game farm where they have small birds. I have always been very happy with the birds I have gotten at game farms. I also clean my own so there is never an issue with who's birds I have.

Those birds are still far less than spending 3 days outstate when you figure gas, food lodging and any other expenses along with an outstate license.I love hunting anywhere but any trip I have ever went on is almost always more in cost than a trip to the game farm.

When I got my pup back from the dog trainer, I worked the dog almost all winter getting him on birds at a game farm. One cannot find a better place in the winter to work a young dog on live birds.

Sorry for the change of subject, back to the OP's original subject.

[CaptainBly]

I haven't gone for 5-6 years. Still a member of PF and a local sportsmans club. I'm sure the biologist know more than me, it was just a thought. I have seen quite a few birds too. Last weekend I about had to stop on the highway, there were about a dozen on the right side of the road, four crossing and five on the left side. The birds are out there.

[pureinsanity]

Pure, you must do a game farm where they have small birds. I have always been very happy with the birds I have gotten at game farms. I also clean my own so there is never an issue with who's birds I have.

H&H and Oakdale, but they were freebies to me. I refuse to pay for a GF Hunt. I know people who have land next to these places so most the birds I get are scratch birds anyway. For birds for training our pups weve found a local guy that raises his own pheasants and sells them pretty cheap.

on subject the birds are there, they are just good at not being seen now since their isnt much cover for them to use to get from place to place.

[harvey lee]

That's great you can access land to hunt the scratch birds but they are still the puny birds you said you didn't care for as few posts above.

I realize the GF's are not for everyone but as I stated earlier, it allows one to hunt all year round and it's great to keep a pup on birds when they are just starting out.

[pureinsanity]

That's great you can access land to hunt the scratch birds but they are still the puny birds you said you didn't care for as few posts above.

I realize the GF's are not for everyone but as I stated earlier, it allows one to hunt all year round and it's great to keep a pup on birds when they are just starting out.

I am not against GF's, I just think they are over priced and to me not as fun. I do agree its great for keeping a pup on birds, or training a pump. Hunting all year round is nice for the person who enjoys it. I did enjoy my times doing it but it just is not the same as out in the wild.

I typically do not even go out for pheasants (outside of the occasional South Dakota trip) until there is a foot of snow on the ground, and everything is froze over. My favorite time to pheasant hunt is during a good snow storm. That is when I enjoy pheasant hunting. The smart birds are the only ones left, and its way more of a challenge to get a bird as they are jumpy from the pressure.

In my couple times at a game farm my dog caught a majority of the birds. It was pretty funny because I stuck a few live birds in my pouch that my dog caught. When we were "done hunting" and everyone wasn't paying attention I loaded my gun, took a bird out and threw it in the middle of the group as they were chatting. That bird would take off and everyone would start blasting at it but forgot they already unloaded. Amazing what the element of surprise will do to a person!

My thing I do not like is when they flush, if they even do they only fly 30 yards at max and set back down. I brought my trusty 870 wingmaster and I should have brought a .410. I was in the mind set that these birds were going to be taking off like wild birds and I would put my bead on them instantly and shoot. Needless to say a few heads were missing off the birds from to close of shot.

I will say I still did have fun because we did shoot a lot of birds that day, BUT nothing beats the real outdoors and chasing the smart elusive wild ring neck.

Would I hunt a game farm again? Sure why not if the opportunity came up. But, I wouldn't really want to pay for it. Luckily I have friends that get free hunts and are nice enough to take me with.

this is one from last winter.

[Stringerless!]

No game farms for me. Went on a "hunt" at WW in prior lake. Could not even get myself to pull up on a hen. Just as you stated birds would flush and not go 20 yards. When we were done we had to drive through the a couple other areas that were going to be hunted next. The guys were releasing birds for the next group. The birds would hit the ground and stay hunched up. They had been in the cage so long that they did not know they could stand up ! Fair chase ?! Of course not ! Not for me . Have absolutely nothing against ppl using them though. Just not me.

[sticknstring]

This warmup is exactly what the birds needed. All the tops of the fields have opened up around me. Haven't had a bird at the feeder in 3 days - good sign.

[harvey lee]

Yes this warm up will really help the remaining birds.

I agree Pure that shooting birds in the wild is more fun for sure.

[Dotch]

Starting to leave more corn behind in their feeder as the fields open up. Still a few birds hanging around the yard but not as many as earlier. Some of the roosters will stay around the yard right through breeding season and part of the summer. Spectacular colors, fun to watch. Not so fun to have them waking me up prior to 5 a.m.. I'm seeing some crows now so will have to see if we can't do something about that, legally of course.

[pureinsanity]

here is some info.

Winter Hammering Pheasant Country…Again

Today’s broken record alert: Another rough winter is taking its toll in the Upper Midwestern reaches of pheasant country. Here are compiled reports from the hardest hit states.

North Dakota

Record to near-record snowfall has blanketed much of North Dakota each winter since 2008-09. As of the end of January, the average 2′ snow depth was nearly double what it was last year at the same time. There are reports of pheasant losses. “What this winter will mean in terms of pheasant hunting opportunities next fall is hard to tell,” said North Dakota Fish Department Wildlife Chief Randy Kreil. “For the most part, birds were able to adapt the past two winters under similar conditions. But then again, good nesting habitat in spring allowed them to rebound, (and) with the continued loss of Conservation Reserve Program acres, their ability to rebound could be impaired.”

Eastern Montana

The Hi-Line and southern regions of eastern Montana have been hammered by continued bouts of Arctic air and record-breaking snowfall. Impacts to upland game bird populations may be severe in some locations.

Minnesota

Pheasants in Minnesota are enduring the region’s most severe winter since the devastation of 1995-96 and 1996-97. Snow and cold started in early December, and snow depths across the southern pheasant range in Minnesota last week ranged from 24 to 30 inches. During last year’s tough winter, standing crops leftover from a wet harvest season helped birds with food and cover – not the case this year with the 2010 crops being harvested early in the fall.

South Dakota

Brutal cold and snow, particularly high winds and blowing snow, have contributed to some pheasant mortality in areas with unsuitable thermal cover. Motorists are reporting seeing many pheasants along roadsides, which has led to many vehicle-related bird deaths.

Sources: Associated Press, Billings Gazette, Great Falls Tribune, Minnesota Outdoor News

[harvey lee]

Wer will have to hope for a great nesting period for the birds to recover.

[muc33]

Wer will have to hope for a great nesting period for the birds to recover.

I pray for that every year! Even when the winters weren't as harsh as this one.

[JRedig]

I'm seeing some crows now so will have to see if we can't do something about that, legally of course.

Hi Dotch, if you want some help with the crows and a really fun twist to catching them, shoot me a note. birdmanmt at gmail dot com

-Jeff

[Turbodog]

Good thing we got that warm weather last week this snow buried everything !

[brittman]

Good thing we got that warm weather last week this snow buried everything !

Really ?

If any pheasants moved out of winter cover to marginal cover with the warming trend they are dead now.

This storm will KILL many, many a pheasant.

Those of you seeing all those pheasants this winter on the side of the road. It is a false sense of security. It is simply where they can find what little food is not buried. Slowly getting picked off from traffic, exposure and predators. I would rather have a 100 birds in a township hidden in cover than a dozen visible every day along side a busy road.