A Strange Bobwhite Question...

[Laurajean]

I'm still friends with my ex, and he has always (and still does) talk about wanting to "raise bobwhites and release them". I'm not quite sure what exactly he's thinking, I guess he likes the idea of hatching them, but doesn't want to keep them, wants to bring them into the woods and release them after breeding them..... I know, it's odd.

Anyway, he knows nothing about livestock or poultry (obviously), so I thought I'd ask the question on his behalf here. Are bobwhites domesticated in a way that they could not be released? Because that's what I keep telling him, but he thinks that because he hears and sees them in the woods where he lives it would be fine.

Anyone have any input on this that I can pass on to him? Breeding bobwhites for the purpose of releasing??

 

[jenjscott]

It's certainly possible, but in most states illegal without a permit. They must be raised under special conditions so they remain "wild". It can get real complicated. Game and fish or DNR jurisdiction in most states.

 

[Laurajean]

Quote:
He's in Massachusetts, but knowing him, he would probably just do it anyway, without a permit. I am curious what the "special conditions" are that keeps them wild, I imagine little hands-on interaction, etc? I suppose he can research it himself if he really wants to do it that bad. I was just wondering if it would be like throwing a domestic chicken out in the woods. But I admittedly know NOTHING about quail of any kind.

 

[wpalmisano]

Illegal in Connecticut. I would worry that captive birds are raised in close proximity and can spread disease to wild quail, especially because Bobs form a circle at night and their rumps touch. The other issue is there has been no natural selection and the survival rates for farmed quail are dismal. Same with pheasants and mallards.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
AGREED, IN FACT HIS ACTIONS MAY SINGLE HANDEDLY WIPE OUT ALL BOB WHITES FOR 3 STATES IN ANY DIRECTION. THERE'S REASONS FOR LAWS IN MOST CASES EVEN IF WE DONT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE BEHIND THE SCENES INFORMATION OR WORKINGS OF IT OR AGREE WITH THEM. EVEN IF DONE CORRECTLY BU PROS WITH THE BEST TECHNIQUES THE SURVIVAL RATE IS DISMAL IF THAT.

 

[Robo]

Quote:
AGREED, IN FACT HIS ACTIONS MAY SINGLE HANDEDLY WIPE OUT ALL BOB WHITES FOR 3 STATES IN ANY DIRECTION. THERE'S REASONS FOR LAWS IN MOST CASES EVEN IF WE DONT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE BEHIND THE SCENES INFORMATION OR WORKINGS OF IT OR AGREE WITH THEM. EVEN IF DONE CORRECTLY BU PROS WITH THE BEST TECHNIQUES THE SURVIVAL RATE IS DISMAL IF THAT.

X2