No birds at game farms???

[iceman2010]

I called a game farm in northern MN today to see when he'd be open as I'm excited to get my gsp back on some pheasants. He told me that with the mild winter there weren't any birds around to buy for the game farms as the game farms were all able to stay open all winter long. Is there any truth to this or is he looking for a longer break??

[bottomdweller]

Pretty much, I hunted all winter at my club, they ran out of birds a couple weeks ago.

[TylerS]

It's not just a regional thing: there is a major, major bird shortage that spans the nation.

I gleaned the following post off another board that, also, got it from the Michigan board mentioned. Although it is mostly talking about Michigan, the information is pertinent to the entire U.S.

Quote:

posted 1/10/12

From the Michigan Association of Game Birds

MAJOR NATIONAL GAME BIRD SHORTAGE ...

Most people do not understand how the Gamebird industry works each year. Bird Breeders sell out of their birds in the Spring and take orders for the next years batch of birds that will be ready in the late summer and early fall. They then have to acquire the needed eggs and systematically hatch them out in batches to provide enough birds for the fall, winter and spring months. If you are smart, as a gamebird user, you will give a deposit and sign a contract for the number of birds you will use each year so that your bird breeder will then have to guarantee your birds. If you do not do this, your bird breeder has no GUARANTEE to supply your birds. THIS YEAR IT MAY REALLY MATTER!! Many bird breeders are already running out of birds for 2012!

We were advised by our large Midwest bird breeder that there is a major National Game Bird shortage trickling down from out west. I confirmed it with the MAGBHP and NAGA today, as well. This is true. The bad wild bird numbers had many western preserves in North and South Dakota buying up many of the Game Bird Breeders birds to supplement their wild birds in order to have decent hunts. Now these bird breeders are running low and contacting Midwestern bird breeders for birds and they are selling out quickly, as well. Everyone that "NEEDS" birds to run their business are paying good money for any Gamebirds that they can find nationally. This started with Pheasant out west, but is now trickling down to the Chukar, as well. Many pheasant preserves will be short and therefore the are now buying up all the out of Chukar to make up for the anticipated Spring shortages for their future hunts by supplementing mixed bird hunts and on and on.

This is a very big concern for professional bird dog trainers and preserves! Ideally every one who runs a business and need birds for hunting and/or training for hunts should secure your birds with deposits if you have not done so already. It may already be too late if you do not have your birds held with deposit and a contract. Those looking for birds who do not have them on hold with deposits/written contracts will find that the breeders may not have birds to cover their bird orders this year. If you do not have a bird supply on hold with deposits (as many require) you may find yourself trying to run a professional businesses without birds this year.

PRESERVES: This year's projections are that many will probably run our of birds early this year. Hunters wanting to go hunting with your dogs on Pheasant and/or Chukar should schedule your pheasant hunts early. There may not be any Pheasant left come late March and April.

PRO TRAINERS: SECURE YOUR ENTIRE 2012 SEASON'S BIRDS NOW! Professional Dog trainers will be out of business without gamebirds to train on. For that reason, although we usually sell our birds to the public, we will not be doing so this year. We need our birds to last all Winter, Spring and Summer until the bird breeders will refresh the supply again with their next year's batches in late summer. If we sell them, we will be out of business. All should probably do likewise.

COMPETITION EVENTS: This will affect all who plan to use birds this Winter, Spring and Summer. Anyone who is going to need Game Birds for events this year, should double check with their bird supplier that they will have birds. A better idea would recommend putting deposit and having contracts, because people will be paying a pretty penny for birds and they will be disappearing nationwide, if you do not have guaranteed birds on hold for you.

MAGBHP: http://www.michiganhuntingpreserves.com/ I just spoke with Jim Trinklein., President of Michigan Association of Gamebird Breeders and Hunting Preserves. He said McFarland (nation's largest gamebird breeder) is buying up any birds he can find from even small breeders and paying top dollar. This is something that has NEVER happened before on such a National Level. This is not a local shortage, but a NATIONAL shortage. Any available birds are usually disappearing as soon as they are found. NAGA confirmed this, too.

MICHIGAN: At least here in Michigan, another reason for the shortage besides some staying here instead of going west, is the MILD WINTER WEATHER. Many chose to stay in Michigan for the above reason and also some of the preserves are having the best year ever with the mild winter weather. Due to this many are not heading snowmobiling and cross county skiing for recreation. Many are choosing to stay and hunt birds on local preserves, instead of going west, too. Some preserves are selling more birds than ever and are having record bird sales so far this year for these reasons. This is a two-edged sword .... most did not think we would have such a great year (economy wise) and did not order enough birds to cover the increase in the bird sales. Therefore many breeders and local preserves will probably run out of birds earlier this year.

BIRDS FOR SALE: We usually sell game birds to the public, but due to this bird shortage, we have decided not to sell any this year, because it is more important that we wait it out and see if there will be enough for all of our hunts and year-round dog training that we do all winter, spring and summer. It seems prudent that everyone needs to look out for their own business interests first. In a nutshell, private owners trying to find training birds may not be so lucky this year. If you do find birds this may explain why bird prices may be higher, as well.

[stretch]

call up keith at sand pines phesant farm. He gave me a call last week saying he got some more birds in. Give him a call.