Wildlife habitat | Alberta Conservation Association hopes to boost awareness 
of habitat conservation for all game birds
FINCASTLE, Alta. — The vibrant plumage of pheasants was the most colourful thing in the brown and tan autumn landscape as novice hunters gathered Oct. 19 on the first day of the Taber Pheasant Festival.
Organized by the Alberta Conservation Association and local volunteers, the festival also featured week-long hunts throughout the district.
In all, 4,500 mature pheasants shipped from a Wisconsin hatchery were released throughout the week.
Birds that escape hunters may survive to help increase pheasant populations as habitat improves.
Association president Todd Zimmerling said the pheasant festival serves several purposes.
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“One of them is to get people re-engaged, re-interested in pheasant hunting itself,” he said.
“Back in the ’70s and ’80s there were close to 27,000 pheasant hunters in the province. That dropped down as low as 5,000 about five years ago so we want to get people interested again.”
Zimmerling also noted the economic benefits of hosting more than 1,000 hunters in the region. Previous studies conducted by Upland Birds Alberta shows hunters can add significantly to small town and rural economies.
“We also wanted to raise the issue of habitat and habitat conservation for not just pheasants but upland game birds overall,” Zimmerling said.
Habitat in southern Alberta has been gradually lost over the years as counties mow ditches, farmers cultivate more land and irrigation systems lose less water that used to encourage grass and brush cover.
Landowners are now becoming more interested in creating and preserving wildlife habitat by maintaining cover along fence lines, leaving cover close to grain fields and maintaining dense grassy areas during nesting season.
“Most of it is fairly minor changes that have to occur, and most landowners, once we talk to them, are quite happy to do it because they like the concept of having pheasant back on the land again.”
Zimmerling said pheasants were introduced to North America about 1908. They can flourish in southern Alberta if habitat is available and winters are not overly harsh.
The number of hunters in the province has been rising over the past eight years, and online registrations for this year’s event sold out in less than four minutes.
Zimmerling said pheasant hunting provides easy entry to the sport, with its flat terrain and easy access.
People with bird dogs also like it, which is one of the appeals for Darcy Johnson, a farmer from Vauxhall, Alta., who volunteered at novice day and is training his dog for pheasant hunting.
“It’s nice to be able to live off the land a little bit, and I think it’s something that’s out of practice,” Johnson said while his dog eyed nearby pheasants.
“Not very many people do it anymore. Its nice to be outside and enjoy what God’s made for us.”
Most if not all pheasant hunters eat the birds they shoot. Johnson proclaimed it to be much better than chicken.
However, the thrill of the hunt is a major factor.
“The bird flushes up and it might scare the pants off you,” said Zimmerling.
“It gives you a jolt and then you jump up and try to get a shot away.”
Novice hunters at the first festival weekend received training from Alberta Hunter Education instructors before trying their hand at shooting live game.
Experienced hunters took to the fields during the rest of the week.
