Game Rearing/Release/Vermin Control Page

All pheasants have now been released into the wild. The birds were released over two consecutive Sundays. The first Sunday for release was not ideal as it rained heavily making life difficult for both birds and Club members who were involved. In this weather the birds tended to overheat very quickly in release boxes and become stressed. It was decided early on not to proceed with releasing all birds as some would no doubt have been lost. Those that were released quickly revived and were seen eating and scratching about in their new environment within minutes.

Almost two hundred birds were released on day one. The remaining pheasants were given their freedom the following Sunday when conditions were much more ideal and pleasant for all involved.

Over all three hundred and twenty pheasants have been released by the club this year which will add greatly to the wild bird population and improve the strain. This years birds have all been imported from France at one day old.
Our thanks to our gamekeeper who once again has done a fabulous job caring for the poults from a young age.

Over one hundred duck were purchased and released onto our mill pond early in May. Problems arose quickly when we noticed ducks missing from day one. There were no visible signs as to how or where ducks were disappearing. Over three nights thirty ducks vanished. It was then decided that all remaining ducks would have to be re captured and removed to safer abodes. Since their removal the seventy ducks have thrived on three different release ponds having been fed daily since then. They have now taken to the skies and are a beautiful sight when seen in full flight each evening.

We have since realized that the thirty ducks fell prey to a pair of mink who had been resident on the pond. The mink have now been removed but it was a costly lesson for all concerned. It just goes to show that vermin, especially mink have to be controlled constantly in order to sustain any sort of game release program.

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