Releasing Partridge - just like comedy - it's all about the timing...

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Hello, A few years back a local shoot released over 500 Partridge , This area is known for Kites and Buzzards , Despite doing everything to help the Partridges most never made a shoot day,
 
You know, dunwater may have just hit the nail on the head. If they fail to hold and are thin on the ground, then they will not contribute much to a formal day. Not all the guns may wish to do it, but you could add a day or two to the season by shooting them over pointers.
 
dunwater said:
Rather than just driving them, would you consider shooting a few walked up over pointers?
Not as iconic as grouse perhaps but a long long way from boring and it might give you an extra day or 2?
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Unless it's a really big area, you're more likely to lose two days from the main calendar than gain 2 days. The theroy is good though.
 
Rhodesianjess said:
@Stalker1962 mentioned your dilemma to my brother last night, professional keeper himself in Norfolk. His answer much the same as mine and the other contributors, you really need acreage to hold them.
He informed me that they bought in 20k of redlegs from Spain, delivery wagon to the centre of his estate and released there and then out the crates. This on top of what he released from his rearing field.
Asked him about return rate, answer same as most years. Must bear in mind his estate is farmed/set out for shooting. Ever field has a drill width of permanent cover on 2 sides plus 1700 acres of sugar beet! In addition, large plots of maize/millet mix game cover for the drives.
Hence the conclusion that acreage and habitat most important for partridge.
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Largely agree - but habitat over acreage every time and then as few foxes as possible
 
Well it is hotter than the Sun right now..

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I think I will wait until the temperature drops to something that will not kill me...


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and have a wander up to the Pens.

I have a wee treat for the Partridge...


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Good idea?

Bad idea?

You have until the temperature drops below that required to roast a side of Beef, before I wander off...
 
Stalker1962 said:
Well it is hotter than the Sun right now..

View attachment 378532

I think I will wait until the temperature drops to something that will not kill me...


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and have a wander up to the Pens.

I have a wee treat for the Partridge...


View attachment 378533

Good idea?

Bad idea?

You have until the temperature drops below that required to roast a side of Beef, before I wander off...
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Use correct dosage, overdose can kill with that. Sheep wormer you can't overdose plus put on farm account,used by a lot of keepers for that reason.
 
baguio said:
Unless it's a really big area, you're more likely to lose two days from the main calendar than gain 2 days. The theroy is good though.
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I was thinking more of a “ clean up day” at the end of the season, or if the partridge didn’t hold in the main area, but were accessible on the margins, a salvage operation.
 
dunwater said:
I was thinking more of a “ clean up day” at the end of the season, or if the partridge didn’t hold in the main area, but were accessible on the margins, a salvage operation.
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The trouble is that by the end of the season they’re unlikely to sit tight enough to get any sport with pointers and especially considering that most of the sugar beat and the like has been lifted by then so you have nothing to work with.
 
baguio said:
The trouble is that by the end of the season they’re unlikely to sit tight enough to get any sport with pointers and especially considering that most of the sugar beat and the like has been lifted by then so you have nothing to work with.
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I don’t have much experience with raising or producing partridge.
I’ve shot very few, but they will hold for a pointing dog, and shooting game over a pointing dog is Gods highest gift to mankind.
I’m not arguing, that last statement is a flat fact, I know what I like and I wont be moved, take it or leave it.

In my belief, both and your dog are eligible for instant canonisation and a place in heaven if she points and I shoot a genuine left and right on wild birds and you’ve trained the dog yourself.
I dont know what the rules are in heaven regarding gun ownership, obviously I can’t bring my own, but please make mine a Dixon round action, 12 bore. Thanks.
Your Missus may also qualify for entry if she’s tolerated decades of your obsession and is still there with you.
This is my tale of an opportunity lost. Maybe.
Many moons ago I shot deer over an estate with a shoot that decided to put down 2K partridge in addition to their usual 12K Pheasant, the idea being to prolong the season with an early start.They also put down around 50 Guinea fowl as sentries, they were also a potential new quarry.
The partridge were red legs and the first shoot was pretty successful, the second was less so and the third was a disaster, not a bird, they'd moved.
The guineas stayed but refused to fly, they'd run ahead of the beaters, hop into a big oak tree and just sit there chuntering.
The partridge took themselves away from the twice weekly disturbance of beaters and guns within a fortnight, they dispersed into the margins.
But they were still there, for a while, just not in the main drives.
They would have made a decent few days out if the shoot had treated them, and the few pheasants that joined them, for what they were, a nice walked up day of 15- 20 birds with a mixed bag and no disturbance to the core area of the shoot.
Over the course of the year, partridge numbers steadily declined, there were none by July. Predation and weather took them away. They are a real “put and take” species in Wicklow, the habitat just doesn’t suit. It doesn’t suit pheasants either.
The guineas thrived, we ended up popping them with a .22 because of the noise.
 
Stalker1962 said:
@stavross

BTW

Very jealous of the work party you were able too muster together.

All looks to be going terribly well.
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I was surprised how many offered their help, I’m now calling on them again to help with walking in, I did it on my own this evening and walked in around 400, I don’t mind them being in and around the pen but I don’t want them coming to the track just yet, a bit longer getting to know where home is is what I need at the minute 👍
 
Smellydog said:
That looks good enough to add a splash of Coke to!
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Apparently it can be fatal to the birds if dosed to excess.☠️

I have been very 'gentle' with it this morning. My plan is to keep the Partridge in the Pen for the rest of this week, (so that they benefit from the medication) and then start to release them this weekend.
 
Stalker1962 said:
Apparently it can be fatal to the birds if dosed to excess.☠️

I have been very 'gentle' with it this morning. My plan is to keep the Partridge in the Pen for the rest of this week, (so that they benefit from the medication) and then start to release them this weekend.
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How are they doing Stalker ?
 
Stalker1962 said:
Actually looking really well.

I had a couple of fatalities on the first two days, but they have all thrived since then.

I am minded to start releasing them this afternoon....:-|
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Tim is defo right i think

Get them out in a morning - let them find their feet all day - so many predators about at dusk it would be KFC happy hour
 
OK.

So I pushed the little release 'experiment' over to this morning, on the advice of those on here (thank you all).

I managed to trickle 20% out. Interesting to hear them become quite vocal.


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I will try another 20% on Saturday.

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