Paulywauly Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Hi - I shoot with 3 others over various small patches of ground. We rely on wild game entirely and run on a very tight budget. We have run a small syndicate a few years ago, releasing 300 birds which we reared from poults for 3 seasons. The returns were poor and though enjoyable it was very time consuming. We were considering buying adult birds 3 or 4 times throughout this season and releasing them a day or so before shooting, at various sites. Is this realistic and if so, does anybody have any tips/experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archi Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 This isnt really the done thing Sounds very similar to trickle release of partridges whivh is frowned upon against the basc code of good shooting practice i believe I wouldnt have though they would fly well either regards arhi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted November 15, 2011 Report Share Posted November 15, 2011 You can get ex-layers but they still need to be conditioned into their environment to know they have sufficient food/water/shelter to stick around. People also have mixed results with them. Releasing from cages to shoot next day is neither viable nor sporting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scimitar Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 People do have mixed results with ex layers, feeding well and plenty of dogging in is the way to stop them wandering. But get the birds in plenty of time before shooting them. You could always try boosting your wild population but it can be hard work. I think there is three golden rules 1. Pest control 2. Feeding 3. Dogging in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Think I read somewhere that its illegal to release birds after 1st Nov, this was specifically designed to stop this sort of thing happening. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P~MX Posted December 13, 2011 Report Share Posted December 13, 2011 Think I read somewhere that its illegal to release birds after 1st Nov, this was specifically designed to stop this sort of thing happening. A If it's not illegal it's certainly Unsporting ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Fox Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 (edited) Its very difficult, but the only answer really is to put plenty of time into dogging in, You could try next season holding a few birds in calling pens for a few weeks maybe? - do you have any crops? perhaps you could consider putting in a couple of strips in select spots. Ex layers in my opinion are a waste of time, in my experience they clear off and are very hard to hold and keep,they do not adjust to there new "homes" as quickly as poults do. (I know of a few customers who have tried and failed badly with them, and they know there stuff) .... a few to bolster your stock would be ok, by I certainly wouldnt want to put only ex layers down. It really isnt sporting,nice or decent to release in the way you are considering, I think you either have to accept your shoot for what is and enjoy it, or go for it and put more keepering time into if you can. Edited December 14, 2011 by Devon Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted December 14, 2011 Report Share Posted December 14, 2011 not the way to do it in my opinion ,if the birds are looked after properly ,fed regular ,watered ,vermin controlled etc it will pay in the long run the best shoots are the ones that have had 24/7 care and attension not saying you didnt do this but it takes a years to build a good shoot good luck either way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quist Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 You don't say much about cover or feeding. Check that there is plenty of understorey, bramble, bracken etc for them. Try a battery operated grain spinner on a timer. I think Cabelas do them. Whatever you do, you aren't going to be able to shoot every bird you put down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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