http://www.pheasantsforever.org/page/1/effectofhunting.jsp

Also take into consideration, roosters will absolutely kill hens in the fall/winter. I've never seen it personally but I know several people that have.

if you believe that, I have some ocean front property in Kansas I will sell you cheap

Congratulations to you responsible land owners who want to let the numbers build up and not just go for quick, instant gratification shooting all the birds seen. I salute you.

walter

Walter, I appreciate your thoughts on the subject...BUT, my hunting pheasants every year quite possibly HELPS the birds MORE than it hurts them..allow me to explain...I take my rifle(s) and #4 buckshot...and spend a lot of time hunting coyotes, bobcats, foxes, skunks, etc., while pheasant hunting on my friends ranch...especially in poor pheasant years. In fact, when we can't find pheasant in good numbers, we usually just start varmint hunting to thin the ranks. In fact, occasionally, I will make a follow up pheasant/varmint trip in years with poor numbers. This is the only varmint hunting that takes place on the ranch and as such, if I didn't show up pheasant survival would be harder pressed. All things considered, I will continue to go each year, despite poor overall numbers.

As an aside, many pheasant outfitters will stock flight pen raised birds to supplement the pheasant population, based on the number of hunters they have wanting trips...low turnout will result in low supplemental stockings...the lower the supplemental stockings the harder the predation on the wild population. Just saying, don't be so fast to berate those that hunt every year regardless of the relative abundance of birds...I would suggest in the bad years, it is more important to continue to support pheasant hunting and use the opportunity to improve long term hunting relationships. Ultimately, we all want what is best for the game we pursue. Hope this information helps.