riverkeeper1
Member
Does anyone know why it is unlawful to release pen raised birds on most WMA's in Georgia. I know that a small handful of WMAs in Georgia have "bird dog training areas" where you can release pen raised quail. I understand maybe the disease spread by birds that may not be harvested. However, in my experience if the bird does not get harvested by the hunter the hawks and owls usually make quick work of the left over pen birds. I live seconds away from a WMA in South Georgia that has implemented yearly controlled burns which have resulted in stunning plantation-like forest. I feel that if it was legal to release pen raised birds on these properties the interest in quail hunting would explode in the younger generation like myself. I struggle to find private landowners willing to let me hunt quail on their properties and work my pointers not because of the pen raised birds just because they don't want anyone on their property. If I knew I could legally get Pen Raised birds and set out on this WMA I would literally hunt there weekly (when other hunts such as deer hunts were not going on) to work my dogs and enjoy time with family and friends.