Recommendations and Results of Supplemental Feeding of Pheasants Depending on the Season

Abstract

The quality and quantity of natural food resources and food from agricultural land vary considerably depending on the type of the hunting ground and the season. In order to achieve better body weight of the hunted pheasants, to preserve their number and achieve better reproductive potential of these birds, supplemental feeding is necessary. Previous studies have shown that feeding of pheasants in hunting grounds in all seasons, and especially during the winter, yields positive results. The achieved results, however, are significantly dependent on the degree of anthropogenic activity in the hunting grounds, as well as the amount of natural food. Moreover, nutrition must be adequate not only in terms of the quantity, but also the quality. This means that instead of single feeds (most commonly cereals: wheat, corn, etc.), complete mixtures should be used, which is a costly solution. However, pheasants aged five or more months are increasingly in demand for hunting on the polygons. Nevertheless, hunting in preserved nature and with a diverse wildlife fund will never lose its significance.