Pheasant Hunting

[Max Owner]

Hey all.

Gave up hunting a long time ago. But have been thinking about pheasant hunting. Seems to be the only challenging type of hunt, almost left.

Did some Googling and found a place in the south east corner of Alberta. One place around Cranbrook BC.

Does one need an upland game bird license to hunt on these private property type places?

Anyone done a "guided hunt" package at some place?

 

[scott_r]

Plenty of pheasants here in southern Saskatchewan. Just need to pick up a licence. No need to hire a guide either, quite easy to find.

 

[riden]

Hey all.

Gave up hunting a long time ago. But have been thinking about pheasant hunting. Seems to be the only challenging type of hunt, almost left.

Did some Googling and found a place in the south east corner of Alberta. One place around Cranbrook BC.

Does one need an upland game bird license to hunt on these private property type places?

Anyone done a "guided hunt" package at some place?

Not positive, but during open pheasant season, I bet you do.

Really, you wouldn't know until after you retrieved it if it was banded and was a released bird.

 

[canvasback]

Plenty of pheasants here in southern Saskatchewan. Just need to pick up a licence. No need to hire a guide either, quite easy to find.

Isn't pheasant in Sask for residents only. It was last time I was there about 4 years ago.

 

[M12shooter]

Plenty of pheasants here in southern Saskatchewan. Just need to pick up a licence. No need to hire a guide either, quite easy to find.

....as far as I know pheasant hunting in Saskatchewan is limited to residents only. While on the topic of pheasant...I have only two words... South Dakota...

 

[beretta boy]

Google "Alberta Pheasant Hunting" ... lots of info.

Then try APOS ... (Alberta Professional Outfitters Society)

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

Not positive, but during open pheasant season, I bet you do.

Really, you wouldn't know until after you retrieved it if it was banded and was a released bird.

In Ontario we don't have to band our release birds. Not sure what the regs are like in the West.

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx guys.

 

[cmoney]

It's Three Bars Ranch around Cranbrook. Been going there for the last three years. They have pheasants and chukkars. Top notch facility and great staff and owners. Highly recommend!

 

[Max Owner]

Been leaning towards this one cause of nothing else other than some nice scenery.

Thanx Cmoeny for the recommendation.

 

[hogiron]

In Ontario we don't have to band our release birds. Not sure what the regs are like in the West.

The bird farms I've been to in Alberta are not banded either. Usual identification is large hole through base of nose.

 

[scott_r]

Isn't pheasant in Sask for residents only. It was last time I was there about 4 years ago.

Just checked and you're correct. Pretty much the only birds non residents can't hunt.

Cheers!!

 

[riden]

The bird farms I've been to in Alberta are not banded either. Usual identification is large hole through base of nose.

In Alberta you need to band all released birds. Are you sure the farm you were at was using released birds?

 

[badgreenbird]

It's Three Bars Ranch around Cranbrook. Been going there for the last three years. They have pheasants and chukkars. Top notch facility and great staff and owners. Highly recommend!

lots of wild-ish birds? good guides? I too am planning a pheasant hunt this fall and this one is on my list of potential destinations

 

[Max Owner]

Please let us know how it goes, Badgreenbird.

 

[HowieT]

please include pics too badgreenbird

 

[hogiron]

In Alberta you need to band all released birds. Are you sure the farm you were at was using released birds?

They were farm raised birds. I don't recall anyone shooting released birds that were shot on game farms, seems to me that would start to get pretty expensive. I've only been to a couple of pheasant farms, but I just assumed they wouldn't buy banded birds.

 

[jjohnwm]

But have been thinking about pheasant hunting. Seems to be the only challenging type of hunt, almost left.

Huh?

 

[riden]

They were farm raised birds. I don't recall anyone shooting released birds that were shot on game farms, seems to me that would start to get pretty expensive. I've only been to a couple of pheasant farms, but I just assumed they wouldn't buy banded birds.

Not that hard to get chicks or even eggs, there are a couple of big operations in Alberta that sell them. You can even get them from UFA in the spring, but I bet the price is higher.

The guy that hauls my water has pheasants and wild turkeys wandering his yard. I got some pigeons for training my GSP and he wanted some.

I am considering raising pheasants to shoot on my property since I am too far north for wild ones. Not an expert on the law, but I know a little. Most of my info comes from this guy: http://whitewolfbirds.com/

Once I started looking into it, I was shocked how many people in Alberta are raising their own pheasants to hunt.

Most game farms are raising chicks, likely from eggs, and need to get bands from F&W (along with a couple of permits) to release them. The bands are only for a pheasant being released. I can see them being a pain to put in though.

 

[hogiron]

Not that hard to get chicks or even eggs, there are a couple of big operations in Alberta that sell them. You can even get them from UFA in the spring, but I bet the price is higher.

The guy that hauls my water has pheasants and wild turkeys wandering his yard. I got some pigeons for training my GSP and he wanted some.

I am considering raising pheasants to shoot on my property since I am too far north for wild ones. Not an expert on the law, but I know a little. Most of my info comes from this guy: http://whitewolfbirds.com/

Once I started looking into it, I was shocked how many people in Alberta are raising their own pheasants to hunt.

Most game farms are raising chicks, likely from eggs, and need to get bands from F&W (along with a couple of permits) to release them. The bands are only for a pheasant being released. I can see them being a pain to put in though.

Interesting stuff. Are they called released birds only if they are released into the wild for future hunting, or are they also considered released if they are placed behind a bush for the paid hunting party? I also know a few guys that raised their own, and they seemed to go hunting any time the year.
I've got some great pheasant habitat on my farm, and was thinking doing the same thing.