Hunting quail.

[jyphotog]

A couple of questions. I had a friend offer to pay fair market value for me to raise around 500 quail for him to release on his property for hunting.

1. What type of quail?
2. What age should I sell them?
3. A good way to figure out the value?

Could anyone help me out with these questions?

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
First thing you need to do is get with your state Fish and Wildlife -- you may need permits before you can release them.

 

[jyphotog]

What if I raise in Ga, and release in Tn.? Also, it would be on his property. Does that not matter?

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

Quote:
Most likely he is looking for bobwhites.

1. Bobwhites, preferably Northern if he's looking for a hunting experience, jumbo for meat.
2. Once they are fully mature (Something like 20 weeks? I honestly can't remember right now) and have been flight conditioned for a minimum of six weeks. This is a major cost in bird production for huntting reserves etc etc.
3. Just keep track of your reciepts for all supplies and all costs involved, divide by 500, and see your break even price. Then add, say, fifty cents to a dollar apiece? So, in theory, if you spent $1500, you break even price would be $3 a bird. Raise it up to $4 or $5 a bird, and you could be making $500 to $1000 on this batch. Five dollars is about what I hear for raising bobs for hunting, especially with flight pens. Once you get the overhead cost dissolved, it can be quite a profitable venture.

I urge you to look into gamebird licensing for ANY form of release, just in case. This crosses the boundary between raising quail and raising quail commercially.

Good luck in your venture!

 

[jyphotog]

ahh, Do they have to be flight conditioned, or is this something someone would pay extra for?

 

[MobyQuail]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=429252

I will be looking too, let me know what you find out, my buddy BigJim was licensed in the past and may be again, also, I have family in N. Ga., beautiful!

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

Quote:
Well, I guess they aren't required to be. People do sell flight conditoined birds for more, that is true. Flight conditioning basically just improves the hunter's experience, because otherwise the birds can't fly as far/high/fast, which takes the hunter out of the 'moment.' I don't get shooting birds that were raised specifically to be shot, but hey, to each their own!

 

[MobyQuail]

http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/2210

 

[jyphotog]

Quote:
Well, I guess they aren't required to be. People do sell flight conditoined birds for more, that is true. Flight conditioning basically just improves the hunter's experience, because otherwise the birds can't fly as far/high/fast, which takes the hunter out of the 'moment.' I don't get shooting birds that were raised specifically to be shot, but hey, to each their own!

Well, I will put him on to someone else then. I live in a darn HOA, and they would freak! I am assuming!

 

[MobyQuail]

http://www.georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/uploads/wildlife/hunting/PrivateLands/QuailPages/Pen-Raised%20Quail%20in%20Georgia.pdf

Pen-Raised Quail in Georgia
Frequently Asked Questions
Will releasing pen-raised quail into the wild help restore wild quail?
- Releasing pen-raised quail into the wild is a common question relative to restoring wild
bobwhite populations. In fact, during the mid 1900’s, a few state game and fish agencies began
propagating quail as a means to restore and sustain bobwhite populations but were unsuccessful.
We know a small percentage of pen-raised quail that are released into the wild may pair up with
one another and even wild birds and mate, however there is no scientific evidence that pen-raised
birds have the ability to survive and reproduce in the wild at levels capable of restoring selfsustaining
wild bobwhite populations. Additionally, releasing pen-raised birds into the wild can
potentially introduce disease and parasites into wild bird populations, create competition with
wild quail for food and/or mates, and concentrate and increase exposure to predators. However,
most of these concerns have not been adequately addressed through research, but the potential
exists. That being said, pen-raised birds are useful for training dogs, providing a quail hunting
experience and meeting shooting objectives on shooting preserves and lands where wild quail
restoration isn’t feasible or practical, which helps to maintain interest and support for
conservation of wild quail populations. Restoring wild quail populations requires dedicated and
focused implementation of habitat management practices to meet annual habitat needs of the
bobwhite.
Is it legal to trap wild quail or collect wild quail eggs and use these as a source for penraised
quail?
- It is illegal to trap wild quail or collect wild quail eggs as a source for pen-raised quail.
What permits are needed to open a commercial shooting preserve?
- A Commercial Shooting Preserve license (#040) is required to operate a shooting preserve
where participants pay to shoot pen-raised game birds. Currently, a Blanket Shooting Preserve
license (#046) allows participants to shoot without purchasing a hunting license. These licenses
are available for further review and download on our website,
http://www.georgiawildlife.com/commercial-licenses.
Do I need a permit to raise and sell pen-raised quail?
- Yes, a Commercial Quail Breeder license (#026) is required to propagate pen-raised quail for
commercial purposes. This license is available for review and download on our website,
http://www.georgiawildlife.com/commercial-licenses.