Speaking of pheasants I was hoping the blue pheasant project would work out.They were woodland birds but never took off.
Denny was saying that the farming practices would have to go back to the old days to make for good pheasant hunting which I agree with.But I do see some good pheasant habitat on SGL's where they stock them.Problem is the stupid birds are too tame and easy pickins for fox and such.
As for the grouse,they do run a cycle but the trend has been downward beyond the natural cycle.These wild birds are better at escaping predators then rabbits or pheasants so I think it would be a good idea promote more habitat for them and see what happens.There's too many damn foxes,coyotes,and hawks for rabbits and pheasants out in the wild anymore.I'm not sure if the blue pheasant was better with predators or not.
Doug,here's a problem I have.A fellow I know in Potter has a hundred acres he owns and another 600 he leases with some others.They have never shot does.Yet every year they kill nice buck in archery and see plenty of deer overall.You take a trip down the road a couple of miles on public land and the deer are very scarce,same type of woods.I realize you'll have to take my word on this one but let's look at Greenwood RD.You spot through there and there's plenty of deer usually some real nice wallhangers.The woods along that road which are heavily posted eventually turn into state forest.Same habitat but when you hit the state forest there's very few deer.In these two cases and Tusc in Perry county won't you agree it comes down to hunter acess and overharvests?