Pheasants in the Bemdji area

[cobb]

For those members that are in the Bemidji area, preferably a bit southwest of Bemidji, is there any game farms that sell live pheasants? I am bringing my new pup with me to Becida when deer hunting this year and since we have acreage of grassland at our Becida property that I can work a dog, I would be interested in a source for birds to plant. I do have the required dog training permit, so would prefer pheasants, but chuckers will work also, just need a source of birds.

I have checked out hunting preserves such as McCollum's Hunting Preserve in Bejou and Eagle Forest Acres in Blackduck, but spendy, especially since I have the property and just need a source for birds.

And help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Rick

[tman]

I'm checking my sources.

[smurfman]

If you're going up HWY 169, try the pheasant farm by Princeton. I've bought their old breeder hens for pretty cheap, usually for what quail would run. They are said to ship 50,000 birds per week so they tend to have a few oldsters on hand.

[cobb]

My pheasant hunting trip to the west this weekend has been officially cancelled for me for a variety of reasons. All the more reasons now that I need a source of birds in the Bemidji area, will be up there for most of the week during deer season.

[yukonjasper]

I'll be watching this thread. The sources I know about in the Central and Western part of the state say that South Dakota is buying all the birds they can produce. You can get them, but they are pretty expensive.

We have talked about doing what your thinking on our acreage near Morris - although a pretty good population is already there to give the younger dogs some practice on birds that you "know" should be in the area.

Not sure Bemdji helps me a whole lot, but just knowing that there is a source means that I should keep looking.

good luck and good hunting.

[cobb]

The sources I know about in the Central and Western part of the state say that South Dakota is buying all the birds they can produce. You can get them, but they are pretty expensive.

I doubt we have the same source, but I was told this also from the guy I got pheasants from Sunday. He has only a few left and the reason is that they look pretty rough, the SD buyer passed on them.

We have talked about doing what your thinking on our acreage near Morris - although a pretty good population is already there to give the younger dogs some practice on birds that you "know" should be in the area.

Since we have the 180 acres in Becida/Bemidji for deer hunting, with one field at about 20+ in open grassland, my thing would be only a couple times a year, pheasants are just about nonexistent, so I need to plant.

Not sure Bemdji helps me a whole lot, but just knowing that there is a source means that I should keep looking.

No reason that a person in the know about birds for sale in the Morris area can't jump in, may help more than just you. I mean there is a sticky thread about local ranges in different areas, why not a thread with sources for birds for training.

On a side note, I may go with chuckers, cheaper to buy, don't have to mark the birds or get the dog training permit every year.

[JJ]

oakwoodgamefarm.com

They are in Princeton, and one of the biggest bird dealers in the state. Probably your best chance.

[cobb]

oakwoodgamefarm.com

They are in Princeton, and one of the biggest bird dealers in the state. Probably your best chance.

Know that, can also buy in Mankato area at an inflated price but do not want to transport and keep birds for 3-4 days until needed. Yes I appreciate the info, but my goal is to buy within 24 hours of needed, assuming we fill our deer tags in the first few days. So would like to find a source as close to south Bemidji area as possible.

Maybe I should figure out a way to preserve live birds in a confined transporting way to keep them active/healthy for an extended period of time, like a few days with no hassle.

[yukonjasper]

Shooter115 where are you!!!!

He would be my Morris connection. I know the Pheasant farm just north of town on 59 looks like it went out of business a couple of years ago, beyond that I know a couple of the partners in the hunting shack have looked into getting birds, with no luck.

[sochr000]

There's a pheasant farm in Federal Dam (Bader's Pheasant Run) not sure if they sell birds, or just do on site stuff.

[smurfman]

Oakwood is the one I was thinking of up above. We have kept pehasants in the shipping crates 4-5 days for training and trials. Give them some orange or apple slices for food and water, keep them out of the elements and sun, and you should be able to keep them a few days.

Buy hens as roosters are much harder to keep as they tend to fight when confined together. You will lose some if kept very long. Hens will also fight but not as hard or savagely. The longer birds are kept together the worse they will look from feather pulling but one isn't usually looking to mount them.

[woundedwarriorsguide]

Eagle Forest Acres near Blackduck

[tman]

Eagle Forest Acres near Blackduck

That's about a 1/2 hour drive or so north of Bemidji. Through the corner of the rez. About 40 minutes if you go around.