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02-22-2011, 09:24 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 240
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Winter & Southern Alberta Pheasants
I’ve been reading on the forums that this winter has been harsh in southern Alberta. I don’t get it, because from here in Calgary this winter has seemed fairly with common amounts of snow and cold.
If the rumors are true, I’m deeply concerned about the pheasant population. As most people know, last year was awful for the pheasants. The late spring rains during hatch and the hail decimated them.
Now if this winter has been truly as bad as they say, how will that affect the already dwindling numbers?
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02-22-2011, 09:37 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,158
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Saw a bunch of cocks when I went for a drive on Saturday. They seemed to be doing just fine so dont worry.
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02-22-2011, 09:41 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: North of Cochrane
Posts: 6,649
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Just pointed one to-day
Just outside Calgary, and he was doing just fine. Tried to hide under a tree but both dogs locked up. Cool!
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02-22-2011, 09:52 AM
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It's likely going to be a very hard year on them Van. Birds that have access to good thermal cover will survive but with the rapidly dwindling habitat in the south and a harsh winter like this, it can't help but hurt them. Things are way worse in the south east than they are in Calgary.
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02-22-2011, 09:57 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Alberta
Posts: 3,650
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We are in the South, had severe flooding that wipped out the first hatch... Good news though, the second hatch was promissing, lots of imature birds this fall running around..
We raise and release pheasants every year, approximately 250 birds in total.. We opened that pen two weeks ago and let the remaining birds go, numbers seem lighter than normal, but none the less it looks promissing...
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02-22-2011, 11:36 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,914
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I think the fall #'s are more dependant on the spring hatch than anything else. If the hatch is a success there should be huntable populations in the fall. If we have an extended cold, wet spring then......
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02-22-2011, 12:11 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 240
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Well, I suppose every week of spring that passes without flooding, hail, or heavy rains will be a small victory.
Thanks everyone.
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02-23-2011, 12:19 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Lethbridge, A. B.
Posts: 1,116
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I have been seeing them around the farm yard, not in big numbers but they are surviving the winter so far. Here is a little snap shot to keep you dreaming of October.
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02-23-2011, 01:11 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 165
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Sledhead71
Have raised some in the past through 4-H. But would like some helpful tips if you have any. Am looking at getting in the range of 200 for hunting this fall. Know the fail rates on them. But any nutrition tips or boosters you would be willing to share would be great. Thanks.
WM.
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02-23-2011, 11:23 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: St.albert
Posts: 510
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wolf medecine if your releasing them on your own land i suggest you put out small feed sites for them(kind of like bird feeders but on the ground) it greatly improves the chance of survival of your birds and also if its your land plant cover for the birds (spruce trees,rosebush etc..) the main reason of release mortality rates are starvation and predation witch can be avoided with cover and food plots greatly increasing the chance of survival of many of the birds.
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