And few years back Silverdale gun Club bought and released some pheasants.I was told the coyotes cleaned them up pretty quick.
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And few years back Silverdale gun Club bought and released some pheasants.I was told the coyotes cleaned them up pretty quick.
The Pheasant is a wonderful bird in all aspects,hunting, viewing, taste.They are also tolerant of man and can adapt to the changing landscapes better than most native species.It is worth the efforts time and money to try and re establish them.
He needs our help.Habitat and a little protection from predators.Yes, N dak and S Dak have yotes.But they also have endless habitat.Smaller the pockets he is forced to survive in, the easier the yote will have to catch him.
S Dak farmers cannot cut hay till 15 of july.Here by july 15 farmers are on thier second cut.
Essex county viewed from the 401 looks like a lunar landscape in winter,any pockets of remaining cover are so small gamebirds such as pheasant or quail could not survive even a few predators.
In europe,in most countries the majority of native non migratory game is released.Great Britain shoots over 10 million pheasants per yr.Majority being released.Pelee has wild pheasants,but a terrific release program as well and habitat.
At this rate,in my grandchildrens day,hunting in places like s ont for non migratory game birds will be on a put and take basis, and the pheasant will be there.
Before another Dime is spent on any program for Phasants be it habitat or a re-intro program........we must change the Regs to ROOSTERS ONLY......because the pheasant is not that difficult of a Bird to hunt....it can get wiped out pretty quick...unlike other upland species here where they have waaaay more habitat to hide in......abolish the shooting of Hens and we may stand a chance oh and clear some of the County lands/forests......nothing lives in those old Pine stands. Native Grasses are the key.
I agree with what pointersrule said. I bet just by banning shooting hens we might get a spin off population based just off the but and take programs in the province.
I have checked out many info. sites on what turkeys eat , and have found nothing to say that turkeys are predators of ground nesting birds , they do eat animal matter but in the form of bugs, insects , snails and snakes .Quote:
Originally Posted by Thinking
If you have any info. that confirms what you stated , please post as i would like to read about it.
Jaycee, I seen it with my own eyes a few years back. Walked I'm to set up on a few gobblers in the spring when we flushed a woodcock on the nest. Two young were there, well after calling in about a dozen turkeys in the same lane way the jake in the front of the flock ate one and killed he other. I don't know if they intentionally eat nesting birds but I believe they are opportunists. Maybe movement triggers there feeding instinct. As for turkeys and upland birds coexisting, they do in different habitats. As the path of least resistance developers took the easy route and took all the open grasslands in Southern Ontario first where our upland birds once thrived. You would be surprised to see how many ring necks and even quail live in city parks. My 2 cents. Get behind habitat programs.
I don't think that is it. NS has lot's and has for almost 50 - 60 years. I think competition with the turkey's. There's lot's of grass and grain here in Russell and perfect habitat but I have only seen 2 Pheasants in 17 years of living here. I was told when the turkey came back the pheasant's started leaving.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tom gobble
Unfortunately I think our government is so broke right now that any "new" programs whatever they are habitat or introductions are out of the question. It would have to be entirely financed by the private sector. I have said it before, i would turn Manitoulin into the same setup as Pelee Island. It would inject a pile of money into that economy and with them having a late deer season it wouldn't have to conflict with that.
Another possible location would be Amherst island near Kingston. The put and take scenario from Pelee island could work on these other islands. If the landowners could benefit financially then they may show interest. Amherst is not large, maybe try Quail only there?
Not enough grassland and too many tall trees bordering fields which makes it easy for birds of prey to diminish Pheasants.
Reintroducing wild birds is a start but we need the habitat to sustain them and protect them from predators.
Anyone knows of a place with thousands of acres of grass and weed and no tall trees on the fence lines in Ontario?
I've seen them in Iowa and where I have hunted wild Pheasants in Michigan..
btw. There's not much phez left in Iowa and parts of the state you can see open fields with no cover whatsoever horizon to horizon.
Turkey vs grouse debate comes up once in a while. I think 100 years ago there was more of everything, so the co-existed, now there's little cover left for grouse, so turkey's predation is more critical. I asked wildlife biologists from MNR about that - they shrug their shoulders, perhaps they don't want to get into that...