Pheasant Hunting/Stocking

The pheasant hunting survey gave all members the opportunity to voice their opinions and suggestions, if any, to improve pheasant hunting for the club. As a result, the board identified a few opportunities to improve, purely based on the majority of answers provided in the survey.

Habitat/cover for the birds is a top priority. Lenny has been seeking opportunities with Heinickle to plant cover crops that would serve as good bird cover/habitat. He also met with a biologist from pheasants forever and the county soil conservation office to learn more about how to partner with farmers to plant good bird habitat that would also benefit farmers. The club purchased a seed mix that is 50% sorghum,  25% buckwheat, and  25% oats that will be planted this year on Heinickle's farm. This will be the club's test year to see if habitat improves the amount of birds found on the property. Lenny is also talking with other landowners to see if they will agree to not mow good bird cover until after hunting season.

In addition, many members commented that folks who stock should not be able to hunt the place they stocked the very next morning. As a club, we should practice fair chase and give members opportunities to hunt all the properties that we lease. As a result, folks that stock birds should not hunt the farm they stocked first thing the very next morning. However, this can only be successful if all/most pheasant hunters show up to stock, post properties, feed/water birds, or unload the truck when birds are delivered. These tasks have unfortunately been the work of very few members across the years. This year, pheasant hunters are expected to show up for property posting, stocking, and bird care. Later this summer, we'll have a sign-up sheet for stocking, bird care, property posting and offloading the pheasants into the pen when they arrive.