Pennsylvania Game News - October 2017 - 20

public lands might not notice much of
a decline at all, because the agency has
eliminated stocking birds on private farms
in the Hunter Access Program.
Banding studies show the lowest
pheasant harvest rates come from these
properties. Meanwhile, pheasants released
on Hunter Access farms accounted for
about 14 percent of birds released in 2016.
These birds now will be stocked on
game lands and other public lands, which
have the best hunter access and pheasant
habitat, and highest harvest rates.

Doing more with less
After costs of the pheasant program
rose to $4.7 million in fiscal year 2015-16,
the agency reduced costs to $3.7 million
in 2016-17 through the mid-year closure
of the two pheasant farms. Those costs
are expected to come down further in
2017-18.
One important, cost-saving change to
the program is the shift to purchasing dayold chicks from a private vendor, eliminating the need to carry over a breeding flock
or maintain hatchery operations.
The agency last year purchased 15,000
day-old chicks to test whether chicks
could be purchased and raised successfully for release. Come the late season,
13,000 pheasants purchased earlier in
the year as day-old chicks were released
for hunters. The agency also released its
17,000 breeding pheasants, and with these
additional birds, a total of 243,000 pheasants were released statewide in 2016.
Pheasant production got off to a good
start this year. The agency's purchase of
200,000 day-old chicks went off without
a hitch. Chicks were delivered to farms
on schedule and in excellent condition.
Propagation staff made adjustments
to accommodate the increased chick
densities in brooder houses, and are rais20

ing pheasants of the quality hunters have
come to expect from agency farms.
Along with the lower program costs,
new revenue generated from sales of
pheasant hunting permits could help support future fall releases of about 200,000
pheasants. Returning to those numbers
will require a modest investment to
increase brooding capacity at the Southwest Game Farm.

Pheasant permit
A pheasant permit is required, in
addition to a general hunting license, for
all adult and senior hunters who pursue
pheasants. Junior hunters do not need a
permit to hunt pheasants.
The permit costs $26.90 and must
be signed and carried while hunting for
pheasants.
While permit sales are projected to
bring in needed revenue, the lower costs
of the pheasant program already are providing benefits of their own. Eliminating
a breeding pheasant flock and hatchery
operations, allows propagation staff to
assist with other important agency functions, many of which are funded through
federal grants that allow 75 percent of
costs to be reimbursed to the agency.
Examples of work already completed
include repairing dove, bear and deer
traps, assisting with bear-check stations
and assisting local food and cover crews
with habitat work on game lands.
Pheasant propagation and hunting in
Pennsylvania have changed considerably
over the past year.
But any hunter who ventures afield for
pheasants, still can expect the excitement
of flushing raucous, cackling roosters and
the pleasure that comes from hunting
pheasants with family, friends and dogs.
It's what pheasant hunting is all
about.
Pennsylvania Game News - October 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - October 2017
