Jump to content

Pheasant - Invasive Species or Valuable Gamebird?


Recommended Posts

Valued member of the game community.  If they displaced a native species or negatively impacted habitat I might change camps, but that's a long shot. 

 

There's a brief bit about this in the new issue of Grays Sporting Journal from their resident culinary contributor.  Unfortunately not available on the net but worth the quick read at the newsstand.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doesn't the term "invasive" usually refer to something with a negative impact on the habitat?  Do Ringneck Pheasant have any negative impact on the habitat?

 

As an aside, I do believe the "put and take" pheasant stocking programs that exist today are not good ambassadors for small game's hunting image.  The same can be said for trout stocking programs.  They are both popular, but are far from natural and self sustaining.

 

Edited by Mr VJP
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Doesn't the term "invasive" usually refer to something with a negative impact on the habitat?  Do Ringneck Pheasant have any negative impact on the habitat?

 

Yes.  What most people forget is there is a difference between "invasive" and "non-native".  There are MANY species that people think of as common that are non-native.  Apples are a good example.  Invasive is something like a snakehead that destroys or takes over the ecosystem that it inhabits.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes.  What most people forget is there is a difference between "invasive" and "non-native".  There are MANY species that people think of as common that are non-native.  Apples are a good example.  Invasive is something like a snakehead that destroys or takes over the ecosystem that it inhabits.

 

So the question from anti hunters is invalid.  Perhaps the debate should just end with that statement.

Edited by Mr VJP
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Around me there are almost no wild Pheasants. Most are stocked. I have talked to a lot of old timers who have told me that, years ago (1940's -1960's and even the early 70's) there use to be a lot of wild pheasants, but no more. Now a wild pheasant is a stocked bird that survived a season or two. So, at least in my area, I would have to say "valuable game bird"

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They are mainly stocked birds by me, but I do tend to see a couple during the Spring turkey season - possibly survivors.

 

A lot of the "wild" trout is stocked.  I have been at one of the hatchery's in the Catskills.  Go camping and canoeing near there.  Never hear any complaints on them being stocked.  They are native to the state, but necessarily to all locations they get released.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The habitat and crop harvest methods in use today, do not lend themselves to a sustainable population of wild pheasant.

Personally I would.like to habitat worked on and identified ad birds released to repopulate with no hunting, the cost of put and take imo is very high per bird for the few hunters there are. I rather the monies go into game law enforcement.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

It's just my observation, but it seems stocking pheasants is detrimental to other game birds, particularly grouse. There are a couple areas where I hunt birds that didn't used to be stocked with pheasants, but are now. Even with the general decline of grouse populations, I would flush a few grouse in these areas

before they started stocking pheasants. Since they started stocking, I've seen almost no grouse. I think the combination of a competing species, along with all the hunting pressure for stocked pheasants has disrupted the grouse in these areas. It seems crazy to me to spend resources stocking a game bird that won't survive a single season if it further harms the viability of another game bird that is sustainable in the wild, but is already under pressure. If the state wants to stock pheasants, do it in marginal habitat that is easily accessible to hordes of hunters who don't mind 'put-and-take' hunting. Leave the productive grouse and woodcock habitat undisturbed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's just my observation, but it seems stocking pheasants is detrimental to other game birds, particularly grouse. There are a couple areas where I hunt birds that didn't used to be stocked with pheasants, but are now. Even with the general decline of grouse populations, I would flush a few grouse in these areas

before they started stocking pheasants. Since they started stocking, I've seen almost no grouse. I think the combination of a competing species, along with all the hunting pressure for stocked pheasants has disrupted the grouse in these areas. It seems crazy to me to spend resources stocking a game bird that won't survive a single season if it further harms the viability of another game bird that is sustainable in the wild, but is already under pressure. If the state wants to stock pheasants, do it in marginal habitat that is easily accessible to hordes of hunters who don't mind 'put-and-take' hunting. Leave the productive grouse and woodcock habitat undisturbed.

 

So, where are you getting your info from or drawing your conclusions? Just your anecdotal observations, correct?

 

In certain areas, where pheasant stocked areas get heavy hunting pressure, a few things happen to grouse, first more get shot, but also, more get educated and harder to find or approach.

 

However, grouse habitat needs disturbance and maintaining pheasant stocking areas provides excellent habitat for them as well as woodcock and other game and non game.Just because they are not there during hunting season, does not mean they are not using these areas during the breeding season or during other stages of their life cycle. And, to be frank, just because hunters are saying they are not seeing them, doesn't even mean they are not there or approachable. Case in point two old dudes telling me and my wife they haven't seen a G or W in 40 years "round here" We went 100 yards ( from the hunters parking area)and killed one of each..... And that isn't the first time that has happened either, it just never happened within 100 yards before.... 

 

Your are also alluding to competition. First, stocked birds don't survive long so they have little impact on native birds. Wild hatched pheasants, have been the subject of numerous studies and have not been implicated as competitors. There has been (one) study that had shown rooster pheasant will harass rooster prairie chickens ( a grouse )  on their leks, but same study did not definitively conclude any  negative impact to the PC's reproduction. Not only was the correlation with PC and RNP weak, but the PC and pheasant only marginally overlap in habitat types. No studies I am aware of link pheasant to issues with ruffed grouse or other species. Even if some minor, compensatory impact existed, it would not outweigh the benefit of sustaining hunting and conservation funding, and it certainly would not outweigh the  maintenance of ephemeral habitat which is a side benefit of pheasant stocking.  

Edited by mike rossi
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Similar Content

    • By mike rossi
      Details coming soon!
       
      As mourning doves expand northward Canadian Providences are instating hunting seasons. British Columbia has hunted doves for some time. Southern Ontario instated a season in 2014, and now Quebec. There is also a pending proposal in Manitoba and discussion elsewhere. 
    • By mike rossi
      Air Shotguns add a new dimension to dove hunting. Note the comment about the overhead utility lines, we are going to recommend the DEC prohibits dove hunting within gun range of lines to prevent damage to them. They are taking Eurasian collared doves, which are similar to our native mourning doves. They are spreading and it is not too uncommon to find this introduced dove across NY. The impacts of ECD are not known at this point.
       
      If you want to hunt doves in NY, sign our online petition at this link: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/petition.html 
       
      For info on Eurasian Collared Doves go to this link: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/eurasian-collared-dove-hunting-ndash-endless-opportunity.html
       
       
       
    • By mike rossi
      Upcoming movie pushes back against the anti-bird dog movement, recommended by the AKC: 
       
      http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/new-movie.html
    • By mike rossi
      Dove Hunting, Spying on Trapper's Convention, NAVHDA Bird Dog Training, and more...
      This page takes a moment to load... it's worth the wait.
       
      http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/anti-hunting-activity-in-new-york.html
    • By mike rossi
      By now you might understand the utility of the information we are sending you and why we are sending it to you. If you are still cursing us out or scratching your head because you are not quite there yet, please stick around! 
       
      Below is a summary we compiled which reflects the central premises of anti-hunting activists both in general and specific to dove hunting. (In the future we will adapt this to pheasant stocking, Sunday hunting, and young forest management).
       
      Categories of arguments are grouped and typical premises of each category are listed.
       
      For your convenience the same information is attached to this email as a pdf file which can be downloaded and saved to your computer.
       
       
      Catalog of Arguments Frequently used by Anti-Hunting Organizations and Activists
       
      Hunter Attitude and Behavior Arguments
       
      1. Lack of interest in retrieving doves.
      2. Hunters do not retrieve or eat doves but rather use them for target practice. Comments made by hunters, outdoor writers, and hunting spokespersons which reflect that or can be construed as such, are frequently quoted by anti-hunters and the media. 
      3. Dove hunting practices are cruel/inhumane/unethical/immoral/unsporting
      4. How hunting causes suffering to doves, for example wounding and not retrieving.
       
      Social Imbalance Arguments
       
      1. Expanding hunting opportunity will contract opportunity for non-hunting activities.
      2. Participation in hunting is shrinking and there is more revenue generated and greater participation in other outdoor activities. Policy should favor the majority.
      3. Expanding hunting opportunity will make NY less desirable for non-hunting recreation which will result in lost revenue for the state and local economies.
      4. The vast majority of hunters are middle aged or older Caucasian males.
       
      Power and Control Arguments
       
      1. Decisions should be made by majority rule (voting).
      2. Hunting policy is decided under a rigged system tainted by favoritism, politics, special interests, money, and abuse of power.
      3. State wildlife agencies mismanage wildlife to accommodate hunters because hunting license revenue is their primary source of funds.
      4. A pro-hunting culture exists within the DEC.
      5. There is no anti-hunting representation on the Conservation Fund Advisory Board and the Fish and Wildlife Management Board. At least one representative of the Humane Society of the United States should be appointed to these boards to represent the interests of the broader public, not just hunters.
       
      Public Participation Arguments
       
      1. Anti-hunters claim they are disenfranchised from the decision making process, the extent to which they are involved, the nature of their involvement.
      2. Lack of transparency of the decision-making process exists.
      3. Public notice was inadequate and therefore stakeholder participation was compromised. 
       
      Arguments about the reliability of population estimates, monitoring, and information about mourning doves.
       
      1. Science is not recent enough
      2. Quality of science is inadequate or questionable
      3. Need NY specific data
      4. Imprecise population estimates
      5. There is speculation surrounding dove management.
      6. NEPA requires ESA, EIS before instating a dove hunting season and/or similar action should be taken prior to considering a dove season. 
       
      Wildlife management is a failure/debacle
       
      1. Management of doves and other wildlife is not working/failing/ineffective.
      2. Animal-related problems are the result of human arrogance, intervention, manipulation or management.
      3. Hunting causes imbalanced wildlife populations.
       
      Dove Hunting is not biologically justified
       
      1. Management need does not exist because doves are not overpopulated or a nuisance species, therefore hunting is not biologically justified.
       
      Dove hunting will not generate conservation revenue or general economic activity.
       
      1. Flawed economic report (flawed because of gross misinterpretation of data)
      2. Participation in dove hunting does not require much money so it should not be allowed
      3. Dove hunters do not buy electronic dog equipment so the economic impact of dove hunting is insignificant.
      4. Dove hunting will only redistribute the effort but not increase license sales.
      5. Dove hunting will have an impact on ticket sales for concerts and basketball games thereby hurting the economy.
       
      Lack of meat
       
      1. A dove is too small to provide “sustenance”.
       
      Palatability
       
      1. Dove meat has a bitter taste that requires heavy marinades
      2. Crow tastes like wild duck and doves
       
      Doves as Symbols
       
      1. Christian
      2. Hebrew
      3. Pagan
      4. Military
      5. Pacifist
      6. Artist Picasso's painting of the Peace Dove.
       
      Public Safety
       
      1. Dove hunting jeopardizes the safety of non-hunters recreating outdoors
       
      Maintain the Status Quo
       
      1. Doves have not been hunted in NY for many years and that protection should remain in place.
       
      Assigning Characteristics to Doves
       
      1. Peaceful, innocent, helpless, loving, devoted, cute, etc.
       
      Incidental Take of Protected Birds
       
      1. Concerns are often raised about hunter’s ability or commitment to identify doves in flight
      2. Persons self-identifying as “experienced” bird watchers, or indicate they study birds for a living (including several artists who characterize their livelihood as “study birds for a living”) indicate they personally have misidentified stationary doves with binoculars, and assert that an error is more likely when discerning birds in flight without binoculars.
       
      Miscellaneous
       
      1. “I am not an animal rights extremist” “I am just a concerned bird watcher”.
      2. ‘I am a hunter, but I oppose hunting doves”.
      3. Orphaned chicks
      4. Compare mourning doves with the passenger pigeon.
      5.  Pb ammunition
      6. Hunters will shoot at doves flying near or perched on utility lines and damage them.
      7.  Writer indicates experience owning a dove or other bird as a pet, saving young birds.
      8. Writer advocates teaching children and/or adults about coexisting with wildlife, animals were here first, compassion for doves, reverence for all life.
      9.  Eating meat is unhealthy or bad for the environment.
      10.  Amount of money spent by both sides or the government in fighting the matter.
      11. Because I feed doves in my backyard people should not hunt them.
      12. Hunters already have enough species to hunt.
      13. Doves are the Farmer’s Friend because they control nuisance plants by eating seeds.
      14. New York State Assembly Rule 3, Sec 1(f) requires the Fiscal Implications of Legislation must be determined.
      15. Anti-hunters will often quote or paraphrase statements made by well-known persons, some of which were published over 120 years ago. The content of such statements is varied:  opinion, outdated science, and often speculation that did not pan out over time.
       
      Characterization of Hunters
       
      1. Real men do not hunt
      2. Hunters are cowards
      3. Hunters are feeble-minded
      4. Hunters are inbred
      5. Hunters are overweight or “paunchy”.
      6. Hunters are backwards
      7. Hunters are hicks
      8. Hunters are Caucasian males
      9. Hunters are an aging and dying breed that is going extinct, in with the new and out with the old!
      10. Hunters are drunks
      11. Hunters are non-athletic or “NARPS” – non-athletic regular person
      12. Hunters can’t fist fight so they need guns
      13.  Multiple contexts of physical inadequacy, sexual inadequacy/etc.
      14. Hunters have the “little man syndrome”.
       
      Core arguments-FD.pdf
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...