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Quail habitat improvement program

I love that Ohio’s upland game birds are getting air time on this forum. While predation plays a part, it is not the #1 limiting factor to upland game species in Ohio, the lack of quality upland habitat is.

The density of upland predators in Kansas is 200% greater than Ohio, but KS has 1.5M more acres of upland habitat. This yields a significant difference in annual harvest.

From my AI assistant: In the 1940s, Ohio had an estimated 5 million pheasants. At that time, the landscape was roughly a 50/50 mix of cropland and undisturbed grassland. Today, Ohio’s wild pheasant population is estimated at only 35,000 birds. The predators (foxes, raccoons, hawks) existed in the 1940s as well; the variable that changed was the removal of 750,000+ acres of native prairie and the loss of fencerows/small-grain agriculture.

Ohio will never be Kansas, but the numbers show that habitat is the number 1 factor to upland game bird success.

Ruffed grouse used to thrive in OH, then the forestry industry shifted and early successional habitat that was beneficial to grouse was reduced. Now hunters go to MI where forestry management is conducive for grouse.
 
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Habitat and predators… all great talking points. But, I believe there are still areas today in Ohio with a sufficient amount of quality habitat, and yet no birds. Habitat is great, but I believe you also have to start with a minimum population of these upland birds for them to sustain themselves. They aren’t just going to magically come back if you improve the habitat.

I’ve pheasant hunted in northern Iowa several times. Their habitat isn’t all that much different than what we have here in Ohio. Yet they have a lot of pheasants, and we don’t.

I firmly believe that if we started a reintroduction program for wild pheasants, just like we’ve done for deer, turkeys, river otters, Allegheny wood rats, and countless other species, we could have an improved and sustainable hunting population. Just look at all the CRP and Lake Erie CREP acreage that’s been created in NW and NC Ohio in the last 10 years. Pen-raised, released pheasants are living more than a year on many of these properties, adjacent to club properties and controlled hunt properties. You can’t tell me a wild bird wouldn’t also thrive if these stupid pen-raised birds are sometimes making a go of it.

Habitat improvement, yes we desparately need it. But in my opinion we ALSO have to give these birds a jumpstart if there’s going to be any serious hope.
 
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jagermeister said:
Habitat and predators… all great talking points. But, I believe there are still areas today in Ohio with a sufficient amount of quality habitat, and yet no birds. Habitat is great, but I believe you also have to start with a minimum population of these upland birds for them to sustain themselves. They aren’t just going to magically come back if you improve the habitat.

I’ve pheasant hunted in northern Iowa several times. Their habitat isn’t all that much different than what we have here in Ohio. Yet they have a lot of pheasants, and we don’t.

I firmly believe that if we started a reintroduction program for wild pheasants, just like we’ve done for deer, turkeys, river otters, Allegheny wood rats, and countless other species, we could have an improved and sustainable hunting population. Just look at all the CRP and Lake Erie CREP acreage that’s been created in NW and NC Ohio in the last 10 years. Pen-raised, released pheasants are living more than a year on many of these properties, adjacent to club properties and controlled hunt properties. You can’t tell me a wild bird wouldn’t also thrive if these stupid pen-raised birds are sometimes making a go of it.

Habitat improvement, yes we desparately need it. But in my opinion we ALSO have to give these birds a jumpstart if there’s going to be any serious hope.
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This is what I'm thinking. Since wild turkeys were released in my not so wonderful habitat area almost 20 years ago now there has been a huntable population since they were released, and still are around the area with some decent numbers. I've never heard of any release programs for wild quail or pheasants. Where do we sign up to pay for wild bird releases or the low human contact pin raised birds at least to try to get them going? landowners with some very nice habitat would pay for bird releases. It's kind of odd no big releases have happened especially a long the lake and many areas in nwohio. When all the talk/money and programs is for habitat in a lot of areas why aren't birds being released with these foundations banking a shitload of money from these fundraisers annually? Just missing a key component of the birds themselves.
 
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md1 said:
This is what I'm thinking. Since wild turkeys were released in my not so wonderful habitat area almost 20 years ago now there has been a huntable population since they were released, and still are around the area with some decent numbers.
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Your statement validates that the wild turkeys were released into a sustainable turkey habitat. Habitat is the operative word! Habitat = accessible and protected breeding/brooding, over-wintering, and feeding cover.

Wild turkeys were reintroduced in Ohio beginning in the '50s after being "wiped out around 1904..." Read, wiped out by biped, quadruped, and winged predators, with a side of changing habitat. This statement validates that Ohio's wild turkey population's habitat was changing from healthy to horrible, to the point where it could no longer sustain the birds. The major change was the increase in bipedal predators (human population expansion) without effective controls on consumption (hunting regs). It took more than 40 years of trapping and releasing wild turkeys to get populations "...in all 88 counties."

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-le...ws/ohios-2025-wild-turkey-poult-index-results

md1 said:
I've never heard of any release programs for wild quail or pheasants.
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Read all about it!

 
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Blackcat86 said:
Your statement validates that the wild turkeys were released into a sustainable turkey habitat. Habitat is the operative word! Habitat = accessible and protected breeding/brooding, over-wintering, and feeding cover.

Wild turkeys were reintroduced in Ohio beginning in the '50s after being "wiped out around 1904..." Read, wiped out by biped, quadruped, and winged predators, with a side of changing habitat. This statement validates that Ohio's wild turkey population's habitat was changing from healthy to horrible, to the point where it could no longer sustain the birds. The major change was the increase in bipedal predators (human population expansion) without effective controls on consumption (hunting regs). It took more than 40 years of trapping and releasing wild turkeys to get populations "...in all 88 counties."

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-le...ws/ohios-2025-wild-turkey-poult-index-results


Read all about it!

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These are not wild birds that are being released. These are put-and-take, pen-raised birds. These are basically released for immediate consumption, not to bolster or create wild populations. It’s not the same. Habitat is great… we definitely need more of it. But why is Pheasants Forever not pounding on anyone’s door, demanding that we start a wild pheasant or quail reintroduction program?
 
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jagermeister said:
These are not wild birds that are being released. These are put-and-take, pen-raised birds. These are basically released for immediate consumption, not to bolster or create wild populations. It’s not the same. Habitat is great… we definitely need more of it. But why is Pheasants Forever not pounding on anyone’s door, demanding that we start a wild pheasant or quail reintroduction program?
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Because that would close the doors for them. Like a doctor fixing the problem...nope, they will treat symptoms so the they can keep you coming back.
 
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For your casual reading
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giles said:
Because that would close the doors for them. Like a doctor fixing the problem...nope, they will treat symptoms so the they can keep you coming back.
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I see your point, and agree that as a nonprofit, the goal should be to be so successful that you’re no longer needed. I would also say with PF, they’ll never be able to work themselves out of business. The problem is simply too big for just them to solve alone.
 
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J said:
If the pheasant/quail were as popular as turkey or deer would we be seeing more wild birds?
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No. People have donated to the cause for 30+ years and it has had very minimal impact. It has become the goodwill bell during the holidays. People hear it, but the little kick in the bucket is just that. Drop a little change and move on. Makes a sportsman feel good to help but that it.

To be totally fair, I am not a fan of chasing feathered game. I think it is a rich man's "sport".
 
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Nothing personal, just nothing entry level about it. Everyone hates high fence deer hunting but will run to shoot pen raised birds. To have a chance at a wild bird you have to have some real dedication and a good dog.
 
J said:
If the pheasant/quail were as popular as turkey or deer would we be seeing more wild birds?
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No.

Do we think the state really cares about turkey or deer? Are we seeing more turkey or deer.

I think we have a thread or two around here documenting those topics.
 
giles said:
Nothing personal, just nothing entry level about it. Everyone hates high fence deer hunting but will run to shoot pen raised birds. To have a chance at a wild bird you have to have some real dedication and a good dog.
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I’m mainly writing my reply for anyone in the same boat as I was a handful of years ago, teetering on the fence of diving into the world of upland hunting.

I dont think true upland hunting is as unattainable as you make it out to be. With the help of many great mentors and many miles walked, 4 months after getting Bo as a puppy we were successful at pointing and killing a wild Ohio rooster. Yet success for me is not defined as the weight of birds in my vest on the way back. Watching the bird dogs and upland birds weave the thread of the hunt across the canvas is simply poetry in motion.

Point, relocate, point relocate…all of this happening while the other dog runs 300 yards ahead to cut the bird off. Now the bird is pinned while one dog points and the other backs. The bird flushes and as you empty both barrels it cackles as it flys away. Sign me up for that any day of the week.

As far as barriers to entry, I have been able to hunt Kansas and Iowa year after year. Good luck deer hunting Kansas and Iowa that frequently as a NR.

I’d love to chat about the dedication and commitment required to anyone considering their first bird dog. Hell I was trapping pigeons under overpasses with a net duct taped to a telescopic pool cleaning rod. You don’t need an endless supply of money to train a bird dog, you just have to be passionate and do it for the dogs. Yet, it certainly isn’t a good fit for everyone.

If anyone’s still with me…I share your sentiments about pen raised bird shooting. Pen bird shooters are to the upland community what able bodied crossbow corn hunters are to the deer hunting community. I dont mean any disrespect painting broad strokes, I think both crowds are looking for greatest return with the lowest investment…and no…I don’t run setters and smoke a corn cob pipe while upland hunting

Sorry for the long winded response. I couldn’t let the moment pass without a counter to upland hunting being sarcastically referred to as “sport”.
 
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I dont catch and release bass either. That is for sport. I hunt and fish to provide meals. I do respect the hell out of what you guys do and I do like it. It is just the difference between hunting and sport to me. Hunting is about the meal, sport is for fun.
 
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