LMAO
Pardon me but what is the danger or harm in "sending youths out to pot inferior birds?"
Let's see: it trains what might otherwise be a good bird dog to self hunt;
it trains the local predator population to target pheasants, and may even increase meso-predator density;
it trains kids to think pheasant hunting is easy. Hunting wild pheasants isn't easy, and it shouldn't be;
it risks introducing new diseases (especially parasites) to wild bird populations. This detriment has been proven in upland bird populations in Europe;
diverting funds from habitat acquisition programs, public access and habitat improvement which enhances wild bird hunting and populations to put-and-take pheasant hunting robs youths of future hunting opportunities.
Pheasant planting is a role for the private sector, private funds, private acreage, charging what the market will support. But expending public funds for pheasant planting on public acreage, when there are many other more sustainable and proven approaches? That is just wooly-headed thinking.
