ATTRA Question of the Week

D.C.
Missouri

Answer: Thank you for requesting information on gamebird production and marketing, especially pheasants and quail.

I suggest you contact your District office of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks or call the state office at 601-432-2400 for information on obtaining a quail or gamebird breeders permit for a gamebird operation. License fees typically depend on the number of birds being raised and the type of operation (commercial, hunting, or hobby) being considered.

The North American Gamebird Association, Inc. (NAGA) (1) is a commodity, communications, and recreational group promoting hunting, conservation of game, and hunting preserves. The association publishes the monthly Wildlife Harvest magazine that is free with a yearly membership of $65.00. These articles discuss relevant state and federal government policies, private operations, hunting resorts, and production practices for gamebird breeders. The classified advertisement section lists sellers or buyers for birds, eggs, chicks, equipment, and supplies. The NAGA Web site has a state by state listing of hunting preserves, gamebird breeders, etc. available in their members section at www.naga.org.

Associations involved with pheasant and quail habitat are Pheasants Forever (yearly membership $30.00) (2), and Quail Unlimited (yearly membership $30.00). (3)

There are many books available from hatcheries, libraries, book stores, etc. on all aspects of raising gamebirds. Referenced below are book listings from two hatcheries to give an idea of what is available.

The publication Pheasant production: Economic and production information for Saskatchewan producers is available www.agr.gov.sk.ca/docs/management/pheprod1.asp

Aside from the magazines published by gamebird associations, the following magazines also have articles or information regarding gamebird production and marketing.

Game Bird Gazette
P.O. Box 171227
Salt Lake City, UT 84117
$21.85 per year.
www.gamebird.com

Small Farm Today
Ridge Top Ranch
3903 W. Ridge Trail Road
Clark, MO 65243–9525
800-633-2535
$33.95 per year.
www.smallfarmtoday.com

References:

1) North American Gamebird Association (NAGA)
P.O. Box 7
Goose Lake, IA 52750
800-624-2967
www.naga.org

2) Pheasants Forever
1783 Buerkle Circle
St. Paul, MN 55110
877-773-2070 (toll-free)
www.pheasantsforever.org

3) Quail Unlimited, Inc.
PO Box 610
Edgefield, SC 29824
803-637-5731
803-637-0037 FAX
www.qu.org

Resources:

Anon. 2003. Feeding game birds. Mississippi State University Extension. 6 p.

Anon. 2001. Pheasant breeder management, and Growing pheasants. Nova Scotia Agriculture and Fisheries. 7 p.

Anon. 1999. Pheasant for profit. AgVentures. August-September. p. 16-24.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 2007. Section 15.00 Captive wildlife/hunting resorts. 24 p.

Benhoff, Chuck. 2000. Taking the Salatin model one step further. The Stockman Grassfarmer. April. p. 30-31.

Greaser, George L. 1998. Partridge Production. Agricultural Alternatives PennState. 6 p.

Hayes, Leland. No date. How to begin and survive a commercial gamebird farm. Leland Hayes Gamebird Publications. 33 p.

Laudenslager, Lynn A. 1985. Pheasant pen construction. Wildlife Harvest. May. 6 p.

Legow, Dave. 2001. Gamebirds. AgVentures. February–March. p. 5–10.

Murray McMurray Hatchery. 2005. Gamebird books. 2 p.

Nowland, Warren. 2002. Pheasant raising. Agfact A5.0.3, 3rd edition, May. New South Wales Department of Agriculture. 28 p.

Randall, Maurice. 2001. Raising Japanese quail. Agfact A5.0.6, 3rd edition, June. New South Wales Department of Agriculture. 9 p.

Silva, Beth. 1999. Contemplating a quail quest? AgVentures. April–May. p. 15, 20-23.

Skewes, Paul A., and Henry R. Wilson. 1995. Bobwhite quail production. Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University, West Lafayette. AS-485. 29 p.

Stromberg's Chicks & Gamebirds Unlimited. 2005. Gamebird books. 4 p.