Pheasant Surrogator... The Project Begins....

Ultimately the above image is 'the goal', but for now its more or less a gamble it seems?
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Since many of you who visit this site originated from 'Upland Journal' this weblog will be familair; as I've also begun a thread on there with as much if not more details than here.

...The reasons for posting it twice are simple, 1) I promised this blog would be 'about hunting and fishing' and it hasn't been lately, and instead more about my inability to find a %#@* damned job and 2) Its for the 50 odd folks visiting who have no idea what UJ is...and to prove I've met at least two people in Montana who can stand being around me, and am not a complete physcopath...?!

Note: I've changed their names, as I do with all my stories, in case I one day end up in a fight with one or the other and want to bash them on here..(quite possible).?

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Today my friend Jim and Donnie went out on his parents' ranch to set up a 'pheasant Surrogator'.
Its a pretty cool project and should be interesting to see how it goes...?

- First, Donnie had picked out a great spot to set the Surrogator as it was a bottom and had two natural springs within close proximity; the bird should easily find later in life.
The bottom leads to an a 1-mile long stretch of the Musselshell River that is also included in the 1,000 acre private ranch.


Once the area was cleared and leveled, the surrogator was put in place..


Then we connected the propane heater, and had already filled the 15 gallon waterer, but had to make sure it was operational and checked for leaks...


First thing 'to-do' as per instructions; was make sure heater worked and get it lighted (took a few tries, but evetually lit)..


Next we filled the feeder and placed the ceramic dome over the heater (center of frame) and then readied it for the chicks..


Next we mixed in the provided "chick aid", which is designed to gel up and encourage the chicks to begin pecking right away (which worked, as they were on it before we left)...


The "chick aid" was placed on one of four paper plates placed in all four corners and on top of a handful of feed; as indicated in instructions...


Then came the chicks themselves, which were a day-old and were picked up in Townsend from a bird-grower on the way to the ranch....(60 total)...


There were 30 on each side of crate and all were alive when placed inside the Surrogator...


It was tought to tell which ones were roosters or hens, but was guessed to be 50/50.
Once all were inside we made a quick hand-check to make sure heater was working, the prepared to close them in...(object being to limit thier exposure to us to mere minutes)


Then we put 6 stakes in the ground to suspend the provided cover above the Surrogator to keep it shaded...


Lastly, we rechecked the heater and waterer were working then left them be...

That is probably the biggest concern is whether both would remain operational for the 5 week duration the chicks are inside? They will stay hidden completely inside the section with the heater and water, then the screened section is available to hem by simply raising a divider; so they can aclimate themsleves to weather and their surroundings.
Its said 'only a bear could get to them inside' and is probably accurate as its quite well made and fully self-supporting for the 5 week duration, without need to refill water or propane. Though it is recommended to check on them once a week.

There is considerable habitat and food-plot work being done yearround on the ranch to benefit the birds once released; and they are sparing no expense in that regard... So 'it will not be lack of feed or cover' that determines whether they make it or not?
There is also a trapping-progarm being started as well, so should work..?

Another release is scheduled between now and September, of additional 63 pheasant using same surrogator, and both groups are being leg-banded with seperate dates; too determine if and how many survived into the upcoming hunting-season; when pursued afield.

I'll keep you posted on how things go here...

Moe