From: CBARNES@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes)
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Subject: Re: Raising and Releasing Game Birds... Advice Needed
Date: 5 Jan 93 16:24:30 GMT
Organization: Texas A&M University
Originator: hunting@osnome.che.wisc.edu

In article <1993Jan4.083518.26042@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
   slv4b@cc.usu.edu writes:
 
>>>The best advice is: DON'T DO IT.  If you release pen-raised birds into
>>>the area, you'll probably lose the native populations you've already
>>>got to the increased predator population that the pen-raised birds
>>>will attract.
 
Not to mention the fact that is illegal in many areas to release pen
raised animals (even ones indiginous to the area).  An example of this
is in east Texas where many attempts were made to reintroduce wild
turkeys with first pen raised birds, then Rio Grande turkeys.  Both
failed miserably.  The pen raised due to predation from lack of exper-
iance and disease.  The Rio Grande turkey because the habitat was too
different from where they came from.  The only method that has worked
thus far is to trap wild eastern turkeys (the type that were indiginous
to the area) in Kentucky and swap release them here.  But when some
free lance people tried adding pen raised birds, the released wild birds
died off because of disease (introduced from the pen raised birds).
 
 
>> I guess this doesn't surprise me, but I would like to suggest an
>> alternative: alter the environment.  Either find a way to make it less
>> friendly for the coyotes and hawks, or more friendly with better cover
>> for the game birds you want.
>
>     I too have considered raising and releasing game birds, but have
>also been discouraged by the poor success others have had.  I believe
>habitat and some degree of predator control is the key to
>reestablishing diminishing bird populations, but how?
 
I firmly believe this is the key.  What I would do is improve the habitat
and then ask your state Wildlife deptartment to consider your land as
a part of their restocking program.  *Hopefully*, if you've done enough
to impress them, then they will pick up the tab for the birds.  At the
very least, they ought to send in a biologist to help you out by helping
you get wild birds from another area.  Of course, you will probably have
to have an agreement to not hunt them for some amount of time.
 
 
>My main
>interest lies in upping the local pheasant numbers on a moderately
>sized piece of private farm land which myself and others have hunted
>in the past.  There seems to be ample cover, but I'm not so sure that
>the feed is adequate.  If we were to plant small parcels of land with
>some type of grain or other feed, what would be the best type?  Also,
>there is an abundance of hawks and skunks in the area, as well as a
>few foxes and coyotes.  Aside from declaring open war on them ( for
>the most part illegal), what is the best way to rid an area of
>predators.
 
It would depend on your area, but in most places you can hunt the skunks
and coyotes to your heart's desire.  As far as what food to plant,
I'll defer to someone with more pheasant experiance......
 
 
      -----------------------------------------------------
Chris Barnes            |   President - Bryan/College Station
cbarnes@tamvm1.tamu.edu |         Retriever Club.
(409) 846-3273 (home)   |   "Dedicated to the betterment of
(409) 845-4437 (work)   |               the retrieving breeds"
Newsgroups: rec.hunting,talk.politics.animals