Some statements to consider, from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS):

“…the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sometimes issues depredation permits, allowing breeders to kill federally protected birds of prey in misguided attempts  to ‘protect’ pheasants…”

“Pheasants are viable hosts for H5N1 avian influenza, a disease that has pandemic possibilities.”

“It is high time for the agencies that operate pheasant stocking to cease it and for the hunting industry to address the unethical nature of private hunting preserves.”

These quotes and others like them are from documents created by HSUS, primarily from one called Wildlife Management Afowl—Pheasant Stocking.

These documents amount to nothing less than a vicious, unwarranted, and baseless attack on the entire industry of game bird breeding and on pheasant stocking in general.

But it fits perfectly into their strategy of attempting to end all hunting by chipping away at every possible front—opposing a badly needed bear season in New Jersey, blocking a new bobcat season in Illinois, attempting to ban polar bear hunting in Canada. There are many, many other examples.

HSUS claims to oppose only the most “egregious” forms of hunting, but I’ve never seen them state what forms of hunting they don’t consider egregious. NRA-ILA has successfully smacked down HSUS’s legislative efforts, most recently in their attempt to polar bear hunting in Canada. But HSUS remains one of today’s most serious threats to hunting.

While it may be tempting for hunters to brush off HSUS’s diatribes as (fill in your own descriptor) we cannot afford to do so. When you see a story in USA Today called “Animal Rights Fight Gains Momentum” (Jan. 28, 2008) it is clear they are good at getting attention. That article went so far as to say, “Animal welfare organizations are riding a wave of popularity,” and HSUS is claiming 10.5 million members or supporters.

One of the ways they garner attention is by making outlandish statements such as those they launch at pheasant stocking and game bird breeding. Since none of HSUS’s documents give any space to an opposing viewpoint, NRA offered the pages of nrahuntersrights.org to give them a forum. We asked Ladd Johnson, new executive director of the North American Gamebird Association (NAGA), to give us an insider’s look at the challenges, value and rewards of game bird breeding.

“The game bird industry is a viable and solid agricultural industry,” Johnson said. “Its importance can be compared to other agricultural businesses and should be provided the same amount of importance. Preserve operations are also an agricultural industry that allows farmers to diversify their lands and investment and not be limited to grain crops, cattle, or other poultry operations.

“The NAGA has been established to stimulate and promote educational work and develop interest in game bird breeding and the shooting preserve industry for their general betterment, not for pecuniary profit. It is also to afford a means of cooperation with federal, state, and local governments in all matters of the game bird industry.”

Asked to describe the conditions under which birds are raised, Johnson said, “Conditions are kept as natural as possible. The pens act as protective enclosures to keep birds from predators such as hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, etc. We maintain pens that are about one acre each, and I know someone who has pens more than a half-mile long to give birds ample room to travel and fly.

“Pens may even be planted with natural cover so the birds are living just like they would in the wild,” Johnson continued. “Strips of corn and other crops are added to provide food and cover, and to enhance foraging skills. Moreover, NAGA’s own Code of Ethics states, ‘I will endeavor to adopt bird-breeding techniques that provide an environment appropriate to their species and age, including correct heating, lighting, shelter and areas for comfortable resting to avoid unnecessary stress.’”

Johnson also feels strongly that pen-raised birds can supplement wild pheasant populations. “Since predators such as hawks and owls can’t be controlled, pheasants will always have trouble sustaining a totally wild population, “he said. “Pheasants have virtually disappeared in the East due to predation and habitat loss. So for every bird that someone is willing to pay to have released, it at least has the chance to survive in the wild. The hunter gets a chance to harvest it for food, while any bird not taken may well survive. In fact, another of HSUS’s claims is that on preserves, ‘...the killing is all but guaranteed.’ In truth, we have many release hunts that only average a 30-60 percent harvest rate. The rest of the birds go free.”

Finally, I asked Johnson to address the three specific HSUS attacks listed in the opening of this article:

HSUS: “Game bird breeders kill federally protected birds of prey.”

Johnson: “Some breeders do obtain a depredation permit from their respective state for their birds similar to what a grain farmer would do for his crops. However, federally and state-protected birds are not harmed in any way. The same holds true at preserve operations. Preserve operations actually aid birds of prey and other predators by increasing the prey base for the area. If protected birds are harmed illegally, we support actions against those individuals.”

HSUS: “Pheasants are viable hosts for avian influenza.”

Johnson: “Game bird breeders go to great lengths to ensure the health of the birds. Most states require a certificate of health before birds can be transported. NAGA offers continual health information to its 1200 members, plus anyone else interested. Moreover, nearly all NAGA members participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, whereby routine inspections and health certificates are issued by the respective state vets. AI (avian influenza) inspections are commonplace now with many of the growers; inspections range from every 30 days to every quarter. All of these procedures are supported by the members.”

(Editor's Note: Just to seek outside confirmation, I asked the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries if they had any evidence that pen-raised pheasants were spreading AI in Virginia. Wildlife Veterinarian Jonathan Steerman said, “We have no evidence that pheasants, quail, and other pen-raised birds are a reservoir of avian influenza, nor do we have any evidence that these birds are responsible for the spread of any avian influenza viruses. In addition, any birds or eggs must come from flocks certified free of AI prior to importation into Virginia in order to protect Virginia’s avian population.”)

HSUS: “Agencies should cease pheasant stocking and the hunting industry should address the unethical nature of private hunting preserves.”

Johnson: “HSUS’s own report documents that 19 states with pheasant stocking programs released three-quarters of a million pheasants in one year, so obviously there is a tremendous demand. If anything, stocking should be increased.  State game departments exist to manage fish and wildlife, and they are funded primarily by hunters’ and fishermen’s dollars. How much are animal rights’ groups paying to support wildlife conservation?

“As for ‘ethics,’ the controlled nature of preserve hunts makes them well-suited for introducing youngsters to ethical concepts such as recovering cripples, obeying rules, estimating range, how to shoot over a dog, zones of fire, and other fundamentals of bird hunting.”   

A final point Johnson raised was one that HSUS conveniently left out—game bird breeders love raising birds.  It is a tough business and no one is getting particularly rich doing it. 

“In the U.S.,” Johnson said, “game bird hunting is a heritage that extends over generations.  The spread of urbanization and the financial burdens placed on the nation’s agricultural operations have changed the time-honored tradition of “free hunting.” Fee hunting is becoming more of a reality as farmers are forced to diversify.  The game bird producers and preserve operations provide the hunting experience to those who do not or can not obtain land for lease or do not have the time to properly manage their respective leases, yet are still able to participate in the hunting traditions.”  

For more information about the North American Gamebird Association, visit http://www.mynaga.org/.