UplandFeathers

The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted a new plan for wild and state-propagated ring-necked pheasants for the next decade. The plan incorporates information gathered by DEC biologists and input from sportsmen with the goal of fostering and continuing the tradition of pheasant hunting in NY for years to come. NY's wild pheasant population has declined by more than 90% since peaks in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Numerous factors contributed to the decline, but the main causes are loss of fallow grasslands for nesting and brood-rearing, a decline in grain farming, and expanding commercial and residential development. Most of the pheasants hunted in NY come from the state’s pheasant programs. More than 100,000 pheasants are hatched for fall stocking. The new plan includes:

• Establishing an area in western NY to concentrate efforts for wild pheasant management. By using available resources, the state hope to determine if increasing wild pheasant populations is possible under current biological, social, and fiscal conditions.
• Extending pheasant hunting seasons in most areas of the state to provide greater hunting opportunities.
• Reducing the size of the cock-only hunting area in western NY to reflect changing habitat and land use.
• Discontinuing the Young Pheasant Release Program (YPRP) after 2010, while continuing the Cooperative Day-old Pheasant Chick Program.
• Increasing adult pheasant production from 25,000 to 30,000 birds annually beginning in 2011.
• Discontinuing the supply of adult birds for field trials.
• Establishing one or more pheasant hunting areas for people with disabilities.

Posted by SwampYankee at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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About 20 years ago when I was member of the Pachaug Outdoor Club we would meet every Wednesday evening to shoot trap. There was a shooter, at that time, who had an odd shotgun called the Beretta 303. It was sweet and reliable and made the 1100s downright choke and the then new 11-87s really turn big green—green with envy. Then Beretta decide to fine tune the 303 and went through numerous model changes faster than a runway model changes clothes at fashion week. There was the 390 which made the 303 look like it was manufactured in China by blind, political activists under house arrest. Then came the 391s and the Extrema’s, Urika’s and Teknys’s. My gun safe just cannot handle the influx in the Beretta population, especially now with the A400 Xplor Unico. After 3 years of development, 8,000 hours of engineering, 2,000 hours of testing and more than 100,000 rounds fired, the Xplor chews up shells from 2-3/4” to 3-1/2” and it weighs 1 pound less than competitor’s 12 gauge shotguns. Plus Beretta flaunts the Xplor as the cleanest, lightest, fastest and most versatile 12 gauge semiautomatic shotgun on the market today. This is why I hate Beretta. Now I have to make room in my gun safe. Would any care to buy a well used 303? How about a nice 391?

Posted by SwampYankee at 01:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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So you all know why you join social networking sites like FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. You are looking to hook up with someone. Well, now you can literally hook up with people at Social Fins. If you are into bass fishing, Social Fins (www.socialfins.com) is completely dedicated to bass anglers of all skill levels from beginners to touring professionals. It’s touted as a new place on the web for bass fishing anglers and fans to congregate and talk strictly bass fishing.

Posted by SwampYankee at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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We have the Oscars, Emmys, Tonys, Obies et al. Now Beretta is handing out tridents—no not three-point spears—but an award to hunting venues. The Beretta Trident Program is a quality rating-system for wingshooting and or shotgun sports. Beretta calls it unique but it is similar to Orvis’s endorsed outfitters and lodge program, where a venue goes under an objective but thorough evaluation. The Beretta Trident will signify excellence and quality. The first operation to receive the Trident is Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge in Pierre, SD. Deep in the heart of pheasant country, Cheyenne Ridge offers the type of wild upland bird hunting one would expect at a 5-star establishment. They say the food is good, too. I’d provide a link to Beretta’s website for more information, but the site is rather abysmal. It looks like it was designed by an information architect going through ecommerce site withdrawals. Go to the Orvis site if you are looking for lodges. Though I always have tail feathers on mund at this time of the year I'm thinking about some place warm. Bone fishing in the Bahamas anyone?

Posted by SwampYankee at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The NH Fish and Game Department wants to know if you’ve seen a flock of wild turkeys this winter. Don’t think of it as actually snitching on the birds, but helping Fish and Game keep track of latin name. This is the second year the state has asked it citizenry to report sightings. Go to the Fish and Game website from now through March 31 to fill out a short survey. The survey fills in the gaps of existing winter flock data especially in eastern and northern parts of the state. Last winter over 1,500 flocks totaling nearly 24,000 turkeys was reported from all over the state. The survey asks participants to report the number of turkeys in the flock, location, type of habitat the birds were observed in, and what the turkeys were feeding on. You’ll also be getting a jump start on your spring scouting.

Posted by SwampYankee at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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