Released Pheasants

[Phes]

How do you people feel about hunting pheasants that are pen raised? Just trying to get a feel on opinions.

Ted

[Box]

My buddy trains his dog with raised birds, and they are definitely not the same as wild birds. But, they are a "crop" and have their place. Good for training, and for shooting anytime you feel like it, cause you don't even need a license (nice for bringing friends who rarely hunt) if it is on private land AND considered a game farm (dog training permit). It can be fun, but it isn't hunting, IMO. I am more a duck hunter than phes, so most others know more about pheseants than me. But if you want to be sure to see some birds and get a little workout for your dogs, why not. If you want a true hunt, it isn't even close. But then a "true hunt" might not find any birds at all ;)

-Box

http://www.walleyecentral.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=103808

[DHotRod]

I'm with BOX... I also use them to train my English setters with but it's not the same as wild birds. I use quail more then I use 747 (pheasants).
if anybody needs a partner in a lease in CO.,Ks. or OK. or would just like to trade some hunts ( I have some pretty nice leases) e-mail me @ Hothuntndogs@aol.com

[went522]

I agree with both Box and hotrod, game farms are fun,easy shooting and easy walking. It doesn't compare to hunting wild birds, them pen raised birds are retarded!! I was out a couple weeks ago gettin the dogs prepared for the real deal, I could have grabbed half the birds by hand and saved myself the shells, but it was fun. I'll use game farms 1 or 2 times before opener to get the dogs ready.

BIRDDOG

[Suzuki]

Interesting. My dog chased a game farm rooster 75 yards before it flushed last Sun. Just like the real thing.

[Unlogged T-Mac]

They have their place.
For some folks stuck in huge megalopolis areas where no habitat remains, they are the only thing available.

Even in Montana, we use bird farms after the end of season, to get a couple more months of work for our dogs.

They are good experience for young dogs.

[Suzuki]

I really used to frown on them but now that I have a real bird dog it has been the only way to train. I found a good one far away from the city with good people and beautiful terrain. It is so close to the real thing there's basically no difference other than you know they ar out there. I can't wait to chase wild birds now that I know my dog can work them.

[Ivy]

I have done both as well. While living in Illinois, I hunted pen raised birds. I used them more to train my young short-hairs.

Then I moved to Iowa. I had ample area's to hunt. But there was always a released Pheasant hunt at a P.F. banquet to bid on. We used the Pen raised hunt to get our dogs ready for the season.

Back then we all had Short-hairs and we treated opening day like the Superbowl. You didn't want your team un-prepared for the big game.

Sometimes the pen raised birds would fly great . Sometimes you had to really kick them up. If they flew great it was only in your mind that there would be an issue. And maybe your wallet.

To a pureist Pen-raised birds could be the equivelent of fishing in a aquarium.

However they serve their pupose and I stopped being a snob along time ago.

Ivy

Looking forward to opening day in Iowa!