CHAPTER XVI 



ESTABLISHING AND HOLDING BIRDS ON PRESERVES COMMON 



CAUSES OF FAILURE PHEASANT SHOOTING BREAKING 



DOGS TO PHEASANTS 



The history of American pheasant breeding is replete with instances 

 in which men of wealth have taken it up with high hopes of securing 

 abundant sport, only to meet with failure and disappointment, usually 

 after spending a not inconsiderable amount of money. 



Again, several of the states have purchased pheasants in large numbers 

 and turned them loose in their covers in the fond hope that a solution had 

 been found for the passing of the ruffed grouse and quail. Seldom has 

 more than mediocre success attended such efforts, due in large measure 

 to the manner in which they have been carried out. 



It must be admitted that such instances as these have given the 

 ringneck a black eye but one which it does not deserve in the opinion of 

 its advocates. 



THREE COMMON CAUSES OF FAILURE. I have attempted to 

 make as careful an analysis as possible of several of the larger and more 

 spectacular failures of individuals at raising ringnecks for sport and I 

 believe that in every instance lack of success can be attributed to one 

 of three things: 



1. An incompetent game keeper. 



2. Selection of land not adapted to birds. 



3. Lack of knowledge of pheasant preserving. 



I believe that the first cause has been operative in at least half the 

 cases. The newness of the industry with its accompanying lack of men 

 skilled at the business largely explains the lack of competent game keepers. 

 Owners of estates and all who contemplate engaging a game keeper are 

 advised to read the chapter on that subject, further on. 



MUST HAVE ACCESS TO WATER. Pheasants must have access 

 to water if they are to be successfully preserved. It is a common and 

 fatal mistake to assume that woodland will hold them. Particularly do 

 they like a swamp well covered with undergrowth. A bog with abundant 

 hardback to give protection from foxes is ideal. A close observer of these 

 birds states that he has seldom seen one more than two flights from water. 



In their wanderings pheasants almost invariably follow streams, so 

 that the attraction of water for them is so marked that it must always be 

 considered when it is desired to hold pheasants to any particular part of 

 country. 



