Pheasant Plans Focus on What Works

Idaho's pheasant management programs will emphasize efforts that have proven themselves over the last couple of years while one part of the program will be dropped because it is not cost effective. Wildlife bureau chief Steve Huffaker reported results from the 2000 pheasant program to Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners at their recent meeting in Boise. His bureau has recommended ceasing to experiment with spring planting of domestically-reared hen pheasants. Planting game farm pheasants in the spring has been shown not to be a cost effective way to increase production of chicks. Huffaker said he wants to continue the program in a cost effective manner with emphasis on wild bird enhancement throughout habitat projects in areas where that can make a difference; continue predator control in areas where it can enhance nest success; and stock roosters on Wildlife Management Areas at a level that the permit-buying public is willing to support. Commissioner Don Clower noted that the experiment at C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area showed pen-raised hens could contribute to the huntable population but not cost effectively. In 2000, the department stocked 1,811 game farm hens, 145 survived and produced 72 roosters. None of the 400 game farm roosters survived from the spring planting. The birds cost $19,050. Spring planting of wild birds included 84 hens of which 30 survived and produced 54 roosters. Of 20 wild roosters, 13 survived to the fall. Trapping and transplanting wild birds cost $8,300. Including stocking in the fall in eight areas, the department planted 12,400 roosters. Hunters took 55 percent, making each harvested bird worth $18. About 2,000 predators were removed on 10 areas at a cost of $53,200 to see how much difference removal would make to pheasant survival. The department spent $850,000 on habitat improvement, about $400,000 of which was matching funds not derived from Fish and Game revenues. Habitat was enhanced on 4,400 acres of private land and 35,200 or public lands in 2000. The 2000 pheasant harvest statewide was estimated at 113,000 with about 22,000 hunters. Since 2000, fall stocking of roosters was increased to more than 16,000 birds, mostly on Wildlife Management Areas in southern Idaho. A new effort, requested by Governor Kempthorne and supported by Fish and Game, will be aimed to increasing pheasant and quail across Idaho to enhance hunting experience as well as to aid the economy of rural areas.