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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,800
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,800 |
In my experience, which is substantial, birds which were hatched in captivity exhibit "normal" pheasant behavior within the same season. Certainly not the same day, but within weeks, hunting them is indistinguishable from that of pheasants born in the wild.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,067
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 17,067 |
You have a point. I’ve seen many that were released early that seemed to have earned “graduate degrees” by the late season, at least when it came to their reaction to orange, dog whistles, and the slamming of truck doors.
Then there were those casually strolling forty feet ahead in a picked row crop still wondering what was going on.
Predators and weather in winter would be no respecter of a bird’s origin, but it seems pen-raised birds released the previous fall would have a tougher time of it.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,910
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 59,910 |
I have seen plenty of planted pheasants that act a lot like wild birds--but have never had to gently use the toe of my boot to get a wild rooster to fly. Some pen-raised birds have even refused to fly, though they will usually trot off a few yards.
Quite a few studies have indicated that releasing pen-raised birds in areas with a decent wild population can also introduce diseases that affect the wild population as well. This is why my home state of Montana only allows limited numbers of pen-raised birds to be released, plus any birds purchased from outside the state "must be from National Poultry Improvement Program approved sources."
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,731
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,731 |
Some think pen raised Birds introduced diseases into the wild population here. Then again some in the GC think Pa never had a thriving Wild population.
Some us stocked Birds for years then quit. Three years later there was one Rooster left that we knew of. He would flush as soon as he had any clue you had entered his comfort zone. Then he was gone.
Last edited by battue; 08/13/20.
laissez les bons temps rouler
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,800 |
That's impressive longevity for sure.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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