Raising Pheasants

[powerboy]

I have to agree that this site is probably not the best choice for the topic at hand. I am a hunter, have been for many years. I was taught to respect nature and all living things.

I find it interesting that people react so harshly to hunting, and all they say are things like, "how can you kill something?" and "arent you ashamed of the fact you murder for pleasure?" while these same people have no problem going to safeway and buying meat on nice little styrofoam trays, going home and savoring the flavor.

It is far more humane for a hunter to take a single animal with one bullet per year than the thousands of mutilated animals in slauhterhouses daily.
The conditions of these vile factories is disgusting. The pnumatic bolts driven into the heads of the animals kill far less that you would imagine. Chickens are treated even worse than cows. Beaks burnt off, stuck in little boxes so they cant move. Even wearing leather, or eating gummie bears or jello suports this activity. There are so many animal by-products in our daily lives I find it tough for people to use the "we preserve life" argument when we actually contribute to the slaughter knowingly or not.

On another note, yes you can say that reefers preserve life by trying to maintain species and further the quest to minimize impact of wild harvests. On the flip side to this, (as there is always one) how fair do you think it is to pluck these animals from the ocean (using cynanide) where their territory is vast and stick them into a tiny little glass box that more times than not, is far too overcrowded. As close as we may try to duplicate nature in our tanks, we never will.

All I'm doing here is playing devils advocate. There is always 2 sides, and sadly, most humans react with haste and think, for lack of a better term, that our poop doesnt stink.

[Invigor]

restock the wild population -- that's a good one! I figure if you want to grow phesants to eat, grow them in a barn and butcher them in the fall...releasing them to freelance around the earth seems a little dangerous...politically and animal healthwise.

Originally Posted by reef_raf

I think restocking wild populations should be left to professional biologists

sounds good to me

if you want to hunt, go shoot some magpies

[Majestic_Aquariums]

I am not opposed to people who hunt. I don't, but at the same time, it does have it's benefits-over-population for one. I do however have issues with anyone that wants to "beat the system" and hunt whatever, whenever. Sorry, Ryan, but I don't think it is too cool to raise a bird, basically domisticate it, (they do become fairly tame) Just to release it, shoot it, and call that a sport.
It has been along time since I was to Taber, but do recall seeing a Pheasant-raising operation locally when I was there. Why not run your Idea past them, maybe they can tell you what you want to know?

But as far as hunting goes, I have read your posts on the subject in the past, and didn't jump all over the idea of hunting itself. When I took my Hunter-training courses, one of the main things that we learned was Wildlife Management, and Preservation-this to me is neither.

[Snappy]

what powerboy said!

[Quinn]

When I was a kid I went through this odd stage when I was really hyped about learning to fish, so my dad stocked our pond with trout. As the hatchery guy was throwing the fish into the water, I was standing there with rod in hand, excitedly waiting for the first bite. In retrospect, it probably wouldn't have been as thrilling as the real thing.

Speaking of non-native species, a recent National Geographic issue covered this topic. Quite something - quite depressing.

For the record, my neighbour used to raise and release pheasants. He's long since moved away but a few are still running around my parents' place. Interesting to learn that they're not native at all.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

Um, I think restocking wild populations should be left to professional biologists. Are the birds you will release healthy? Have you done blood work on them? Will they have some disease that could wipe out the entire wild population? How do you know? Does the wild population NEED restocking? Do you have stats?
Really, if you do happen to raise some birds, please shoot them in front of the hay stack, and don't endanger the wild birds.

there are all kinds of phesent farms in Alberta, and the majority are set up as ryan is describing, hatch, ween and let loose. I remember when I was a kid you would get the bejeasus scared out of you every 30 or 40 feet as they took to the air, now you hardly see them, but they are comming back. even though they are not a native they are common.

Steve

[Ryan]

i see them all the time at Sugar Factory lake but the small places where 8 guys walk in and take thier limits this is what i am trying to restock. This is no different than raising chikens or cows or most of you reefers raising brine for your fish and coral. But this thread is closed can a mod lock this thread so it doesnt go any farther

[Majestic_Aquariums]

hmmm.nevermind-a loosing battle

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Ryan

But this thread is closed can a mod lock this thread so it doesnt go any farther

At your request...