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The 13 kms of marked hiking trails are pruned and marked with paint blazes by volunteer "Trail Rangers" who take responsibility for the trails other than chainsaw work unless they are certified to operate a chainsaw.Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
Since there is no manditory hunting fee, nothing prevents a hunter from purchasing more than one draw ticket to support the pheasant program. The more we put in to the program the more we will get out.
imo only:
Don't mow the cover this year if it does not have non native timber growth... especially that ............buckthorn!
PS But will this affect the spring trials mowing?
Thanks to everyone who provided support and input in this thread!
It seems like the mowing is not a concern to most so now it is time focus on the "Pheasant Challenge" ticket sales and support for the 2017 season.
We have started a new thread for this:
http://www.oodmag.com/community/show...easant-Release
I would like to offer a counter to the no-mow movement.
In my opinion the mowing is a fairly valuable asset for us pheasant hunters. There is an expanse of good upland cover at Hullet that we are all very thankful for and as it is (with the mowed sections) the birds can be spread pretty thin. My opinion is that the mowing is more cost effective than the purchase and care of more pheasants to get hunters on more birds. To create an equal amount of flushes without mowing, I think that the amount of birds released would have to be much higher, making it less cost effective.
In short, I believe that the mowed areas make for a better chance to encounter birds as it limits the areas of good cover. Find the good cover and you have a better chance at finding a bird.
Use a pointer and they can range far without flushing a bird out of shotgun range;)
Just an opinion without anything to back it. I could be very wrong.
not to mention there is lots of other game to hunt in zone B other than pheasants. how would you differentiate between guys going for rabbits/hares/turkeys and jump shooting ducks. all are in the same area and all use some of the same equipment/ firearms.
if you hunt hullett often you should really pay up and donate.
it is a gem of a place to hunt, canoe and explore, and it would be a shame if the level of service was compromised in any way. i dont have any comment on mowing, since i dont hunt pheasants often (just while rabbit hunting) but i have only ever flushed pheasants out of those mowed areas before the season opened.
Quote:
Originally Posted by northernympher
I'm reading this as a little tongue and check humor. Quite honestly feel the mowing makes for too easy of a hunt. Give the pen birds a chance to stretch their legs and wings it will surely enrich the hunting experience more than shooting a couple of glorified chickens. One of the reasons don't hunt the opener as birds are too fresh and easy. Often poor fliers and don't hunt well. Surprising what a few weeks and hitting the heaviest cover you can find will get you.
X2Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers
my dogs will work rough cover and hunting is better in there.
X4Quote:
Originally Posted by dilly
Agreed !
Thanks for the comments and opinions guys. Single and double swaths will be cut through most of the fields this fall connecting travel routes for all users, staff and volunteers. The checkerboard cutting will not be done. Some fields will receive habitat mowing to control timber encroachment as per habitat management plan.
We have updated the financial support in the Pheasant Challenge thread.