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2011 Pheasant Hunting Program“Prospects for the 2011 Maine pheasant hunting season look good”, says MDIFW Wildlife Biologist, Scott Lindsay, administrator of Maine’s Pheasant Program. Maine runs a “put and take” style pheasant hunting program in two southern Maine counties, Cumberland and York. Pheasants are not native to the United States but have been successfully introduced in several states and have thrived in many environments such as Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and the Dakotas as well as others. Pheasants have not established a viable breeding population in Maine due to a combination of mortality associated with the harsh winters and a scarcity of standing grain crops for winter forage. Historically Maine purchased 6-week old chicks from a commercial breeder and volunteer sportsmen’s’ clubs raised the chicks from 6-weeks to approximately 20-weeks old when they are fully grown, strong fliers in their full fall plumage. The birds were then released at both public and private properties offering good pheasant cover. The owners of these release site properties had graciously agreed to be a part of the pheasant program and permit access to hunters. Following several events that led to significant mortality of birds raised in the pens in 2009, we decided to temporarily suspend raising birds and purchase adult birds, instead. We will continue to do this for the 2011 season. A total of 2116 birds will be released at 22 sites in York and Cumberland Counties. Stockings will occur once pre-season, on October 6 and October 20. All listed sites will be stocked at this time. Hunter survey boxes have been installed at many release sites. Please take a moment to complete the enclosed survey and mail back to the regional office in Gray. Your input will help us improve this program. Hunters must purchase a pheasant permit in addition to their regular hunting license and are permitted two birds a day, of either sex. The permits will cost $19 again this year but a rise in program costs and a desire to expand the program to other counties may dictate a rise in the near future. Of the $19, $17 goes to the program and $2 goes to the vendor who sells the permits. The stamps are available on-line or from the normal license vendors. With prices at local shooting preserves exceeding $30 per pheasant released (not necessarily harvested!) the pheasant permit is considered a very good value for the hunter. Pheasants are a particularly good game bird to hunt with dogs because despite the fact that they prefer to run from predators including hunters, they will at times hold tight. When they eventually explode from heavy cover with their unique cackle and a thunderous wing beat they can startle unprepared hunters and dogs. Many a bird has escaped without a shot being fired while the hunter recovers his or her composure. They are also a good bird to start young hunters on because they will eventually hold and can be a larger and more predictable target for new shooters than the fast and erratic flying woodcock or partridge. Lindsay says the hunters can help themselves by talking up the program with their friends and encouraging them to buy a permit. Participation and support from the partnering Fish & Game Clubs is vital. With expanding stamp sales the program can potentially grow larger to include additional release sites in Cumberland and York counties and even additional counties in the state, if there is sufficient support. Dog trainers are discouraged from training their dogs at the release sites after they are stocked but before the season opens to avoid scattering the birds off the sites. For additional information, see the MDIFW website at www.maine.gov/ifw.
Scott Lindsay
2011 Release Sites (View Pheasant Release Site Sign - PDF)
Whitney Farm, Gray Swett Rd., Powerline, Windham Brickyard, Gorham Poleline Site, Gorham Lowell Farm, Gorham Parson's Property, Gorham Meserve Farm, Dayton Ahearn Farm, Dayton Sherman Farm, Dayton/Lyman Longview Plain Farm, Ken Moulton Property, 1069 Longview Plains Farm Road Scarborough Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Scarborough Bragdon Pit Farms, Wells Blackberry Hill Area, Berwick Garrison House Field, York Major McIntire Field, York Patterson Farm, Saco Pikes Field, Cornish Intervale Mudgett Meadow, Parsonsfield Hick's Parcel, Vernon Walker WMA, Newfield Airport Field, East Baldwin Minot Farm, Highland Road in Brunswick Dennett Road Poleline, in South Berwick |
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