R. Michael DiLullo

Shooting Preserves

Shooting preserves offer wingshooters and gundog owners many advantages; like the chance to pursue game birds well before and long after the regular gunning seasons. In heavily populated areas, they also allow hunters to escape the crowds, but their best benefit could be for your dog.

Unfortunately, it’s that between time again! Around the country the last of the upland and, with the exception of spring snow geese, waterfowl seasons have closed. There are still about six weeks to go until spring gobbler opens or fishing begins. But you still have that urge for a few more ventures afield with your dog before hanging-up your shotgun for the year. That dispirited feeling of cabin fever is beginning to creep up on you; you need to get out! So, what do you do? How about giving a shooting preserve a try?

I can hear the groans already, especially from those in the corn-belt regions, most of whom, unlike the rest of us, have never seen a “stocked” game bird. Unfortunately, with the exception of those fortunate enough to live in states with broad expanses of land, abundant populations of wild game birds and extended seasons, most gundog owners, especially in the eastern United States, are forced to pursue stocked pheasants, quail and chukar. Most of our time afield is usually spent chasing a few heavily pressured wild birds (primarily ruffed grouse, woodcock and quail) on public lands during seasons that could be longer or it is spent competing for stocked birds on crowded Wildlife Management Areas (WMA’s). The sad fact is; there are quite a few “bird hunters” and gundogs for that matter, who have never seen, let alone flushed and shot at a wild bird afield.

Having guided at a few shooting preserves for several years, I am a proponent of the concept. I believe the shooting preserve experience can be a favorable one, especially for the new or novice hunter and a young or inexperienced dog. But, preserves can also offer some challenging hunting and shooting for every experience level. The preserve also allows the hunter without a dog to actually experience how the different breeds work in the field. I am proud to say that as a guide, I helped to convert quite a few pointing dog coinsurers over to the flushing/retriever dog world. As for myself, I got to spend a lot of time outdoors with my dogs away from the crowds and I meet some interesting people. My dogs spent a lot of time in birds, literally at the expense of others, and as everyone knows, the best way for your dog to gain experience is to be in birds.

I know the argument will be made that “pen-raised” birds can mess-up a dog when he is hunted on wild birds. My retort, not many of us train exclusively or at all for that matter on wild birds. Most of us do not have the accessibility or time to keep our dogs exclusively on wild birds and in many areas of the country it is illegal after the regular season closes. If their hypothesis is correct, then what does that say for all those field trials and hunting test titles? With the exception of the United Kingdom, all American tests and trials are conducted using “pen-raised” birds! So my question is: What’s the difference in hunting your dog on state stocked lands, at a private club, running in field trials and hunting tests, or patronizing a shooting preserve? The answer is nothing; you are hunting the same “pen-raised” birds! The only difference is the price you are paying for the birds. The only real difference between a private club, and a preserve besides the membership dues and the size of the lodge is the cost of the SUV’s in the parking lot and the shotguns in the racks. In fact, many preserves now offer discounted seasonal memberships, which are a great alternative to expensive private clubs with long waiting lists.

At a typical shooting preserve, hunters pay a fee to hunt “pen-raised” birds that are released on privately owned state-licensed properties just prior to the hunt. Unlike WMA’s and other state lands stocked with game birds, there are no limits on the number of birds a hunter or group of hunters may take at a commercial shooting preserve. As long as the preserve properly tags the harvested birds, a hunter may shoot as many birds as he or she is willing to pay for. Commercial shooting preserves in most eastern states may operate from September 1st through May 1st of each year, although, seasons vary from state to state.

Most shooting preserves open well before the state’s regular small game season, allowing both hunter and dog to get a head start on wingshooting. Photo by: Author

Most preserves offer two four-hour hunts per day, although, other arrangements can usually be made ahead of time. Hunts usually feature a package of one variety of birds or a combination of pheasant, quail and chukar. In recent years, many preserves have begun experimenting with different strains of pheasants and quail in an effort to develop hardier birds. At most shooting preserves in the northeast, pheasants are the birds of choice, whereas, at the plantations of the south, “Mr. Bob” remains the king. Some preserves also offer “pen-raised” mallards, which are released “on the wing”, and fly to nearby ponds where hunters, set-up in blinds, call them in. Other preserves offer tower shoots featuring pigeons, pheasants or mallards. A tower shoot is similar to a round of skeet using real birds. Some of the more fashionable preserves use tower shoots to try to imitate a southern dove hunt (using pigeons) or a driven pheasant shoot at a European estate.

The level of difficulty of a preserve hunt depends on the experience and abilities of the hunter or dog. Hunts can be tailored to accommodate both the experienced and novice hunter and dog. How and where birds are planted makes a big difference, if a hunter or dog is relatively inexperienced, the preserve staff can plant the majority of the birds in fields. For tougher hunting the birds will be released in heavy cover or in hedgerows. As in all hunting there are no guarantees, you will see birds, but the rest depends on dog work and your shooting ability!

	Preserves have become popular places for experienced hunters to introduce new and non-hunters to wingshooting. Photo by: Author

Depending on each state’s hunting and preserve regulations, hunters may be required to possess a state issued small game license. Some state-licensed shooting preserves can issue a special one-day hunting license, but hunters are usually required to present a previous hunting license (from another year or another state) or proof of completing a hunter education course. Whereas, other states do not require any form of hunting license.

Many hunters and Fish and Game officials believe that shooting preserves might very well be the future of hunting in heavily populated states, particularly along the east coast. Most believe that hunting preserves are gaining in popularity because they provide bird hunters with the chance of getting an earlier start on the season and to continue hunting well after the regular season closes. The regular gunning season for pheasants, quail and chukar in most eastern states does not usually begin until October or early November and usually ends in January or February. Preserves also allow hunters to get out and hunt birds without competing with the crowds on state lands or WMA’s. In densely populated areas, preserves offer hunters an alternative to public hunting grounds without traveling far distances or spending exorbitant amounts of money. With land at a premium and increased development comes less access to private and some public land. Loss of habitat due to urbanization, fewer working farms and suburban encroachment causes native game bird populations to continue to decline, resulting in fewer opportunities and less places for the average hunter to hunt. As an example, many of the grouse and woodcock coverts I hunted as a youth in Northern New Jersey and Southern New York State are now condominium complexes and shopping malls. Other factors have also contributed to shooting preserves newfound popularity including the increasing cost of raising game birds, mainly due to rising grain prices and the public’s resistance to increase the price of hunting licenses, pheasant stamps or tags, has caused many eastern state wildlife agencies to reduce the total number of birds stocked in previous years. Mainly due to these issues, especially in the northeastern United States, preserve hunting has become a viable alternative.

The majority of shooting preserve owners also believe these factors have helped to fuel their newfound popularity amongst ardent wingshooters. Because of the preserves extended seasons, many hunters are now visiting local preserves to keep their dogs in birds well after their regular gunning season has closed and many of the clients have become repeat customers. But, people hunt preserves for a variety of reasons. Many just like to get away from the crowds on state lands and be afield with just their dogs or a group of friends. In recent years, many corporate executives have begun using shooting preserves for business outings and preserves have become popular places for experienced hunters to introduce spouses, children and friends to hunting.

Without any interference from other hunters, the psychological pressures of being observed by strangers and plenty of birds to shoot at, preserves are a perfect place to introduce new and non-hunters to wingshooting. Preserves allow first time hunters to gain valuable experience by being with a guide or other more knowledgeable hunters. And, because shooting preserves offer a better opportunity of seeing birds, first time hunters usually have a positive experience. For these reasons, shooting preserves are often the places many woman and children experience hunting for the first time.

Because shooting preserves remain open long after regular hunting seasons have closed, they allow hunters and dogs to spend more time in the field. Photo by: Author

I firmly believe that the bad rap that shooting preserves get is mainly due to anti-hunter sentiment and propaganda. That whole tired diatribe about canned or staged hunts has found its way into the thinking of many “hunters.” This is basically the same argument about hunting “pen-raised” birds and if this is your belief than I again ask you to explain to me the difference in using “pen-raised” birds at state stocked lands, at private clubs, during field trials and hunting tests or at a shooting preserve. Oh, and by the way, I personally feel my dogs handle wild birds better because of their experience with “pen-raised” birds! Can’t wait for the emails!

So, if you would like to get a few more days in the field with your dog this year, why not try a preserve hunt?