Would you hunt pheasants in a wind farm?

Would you hunt pheasants on a wind farm?

  • Yes

    Votes: 31 54.4%

  • No

    Votes: 9 15.8%

  • Would Not Matter to Me

    Votes: 17 29.8%
  • Total voters
    57
UGUIDE

UGUIDE

Active member
As related to a post in the South Dakota forum about wind energy growth

http://www.ultimatepheasanthunting.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10620

I have often wondered how pheasant hunters would view of value hunting experiences on a wind farm?

With the need for alternative energies and SD being a top wind state it is just a matter of time before wind towers and pheasants will appear on the horizon.

Vote on if this would make a difference to you.
 
Two issues. One the wind tower operations around here farm up to the concrete on the towers. So habitat is nearly meaningless. Secondly they are instant habitat killers for all species of native grouse,prairie chickens, and sharptails as well. Should I add from an esthetic standpoint they suck. Personally, I'd get just as big a thrill shooting pigeons in downtown Minneapple under the elevated walkways. I'm an old dinosaur, I realize there are going to need to be tradeoffs, just hate to see it. Can't we build these things where we actually need the power and we've already despoiled the ground to the point of uselessness?
 
oldandnew said:
Two issues. One the wind tower operations around here farm up to the concrete on the towers. So habitat is nearly meaningless. Secondly they are instant habitat killers for all species of native grouse,prairie chickens, and sharptails as well. Should I add from an esthetic standpoint they suck. Personally, I'd get just as big a thrill shooting pigeons in downtown Minneapple under the elevated walkways. I'm an old dinosaur, I realize there are going to need to be tradeoffs, just hate to see it. Can't we build these things where we actually need the power and we've already despoiled the ground to the point of uselessness?
Click to expand...

I agree. I just lost access to a LOT of private ground to hunt because of this crap.
I don't even want to get started.
 
I hunt around stinky, dirty oil wells so I suppose I could around wind towers.
 
Depends.
Would not matter to the dog a bit and if the dog was the focus of the day then little be it for me to complain...same as kicking up a bird on a Preserve, to a degree.
Same if one substitutes a kid or an old friend for the dog.

Druthers involved tho, I would rather not see a wind turbine...or a fence or a house or a well location or a empty Busch Lite can or another hunter's vehicle or, especially, another hunter as all of these and more can affect a hunting experience.
Same issue back in the Appalatchians where wind farms are being lined up on many ridges and folks chirp that the Viewshed is being damaged.
I agree, it is...would rather not see wind turbines lined up as if ready for a charge at Balaclava. Don't feel they add too much to energy independence and may carry costs yet received but I would not take a view so narrow as to let any spinning fan ruin my day.
So, all considered, I would likely hunt pheasants in a wind farm.
 
I voted no but more because I don't want them on the prairie more than anything. I would still hunt the area, but it would definitely reduce the quality of the experience if they were not there.
 
No, but I refuse to pontificate other than to say "NO!"
 
These things suck.They are going to be worn out years before they are ever paid for(can you say bailout)?,and the amount of power produced by them is miniscule when weighed against cost.Not to mention the amount of habitat that is destroyed to build roads,mill sites,power lines,etc.


Big tax breaks and buddy deals support this,as of now,unsustainable industry.
I am all for renewable energy,and I think most all people are,but until it's cost effective,it's just a feel-good proposition without much real benefit.

I remain firmly convinced that we know nothing about how to handle the awesome power of the sun.When we do,things will change in a big way.Something like a housepaint or siding which is capable of gathering the suns energy,could make every house a potential generator capable of sustaining that location independant of the grid.The solution is out there,but these huge windmills aren't it.
 
A guy up in SW Minn I hunted with 3 times a year took me over to see those huge things- never seen one up close- never realized they were that big- long line of them stretching acoss this big area- some moving some not
short of it was- we drove along looking at them and saw 20 or so pheasants moving from sort of that area across the road and into this big grass area-

we stopped- thought about it- short distance and over this rise we see an old farm house and equipment- walk to the door and knock- old timer opens the door and stares-

ahhh we saw some pheasants walk across the road-
"I own that land"

ahh- would you mind if we let the bird dogs out and see if we can get a rooster or 2-

"heck no, nobody has asked in a few years"

short of it- we hunted his land for some years-

did we hunt a wind farm- not sure- we hunted a field across the road from where they were- maybe everyone thought they were ugly- we thought the area was pretty nice
 
ranchodeluxe said:
These things suck.They are going to be worn out years before they are ever paid for(can you say bailout)?,and the amount of power produced by them is miniscule when weighed against cost.Not to mention the amount of habitat that is destroyed to build roads,mill sites,power lines,etc.


Big tax breaks and buddy deals support this,as of now,unsustainable industry.
I am all for renewable energy,and I think most all people are,but until it's cost effective,it's just a feel-good proposition without much real benefit.

I remain firmly convinced that we know nothing about how to handle the awesome power of the sun.When we do,things will change in a big way.Something like a housepaint or siding which is capable of gathering the suns energy,could make every house a potential generator capable of sustaining that location independant of the grid.The solution is out there,but these huge windmills aren't it.
Click to expand...


agree, just like the electric car, a half ass attempt to do something dfferent.
 
hunter94 said:
agree, just like the electric car, a half ass attempt to do something dfferent.
Click to expand...

whoa there- have you driven an electric car

have you driven a HyBred

electric cars might have taken off(still might) except for the fact that we the people like the power and versitality of fuel driven things
 
I have hunted and shot birds in fields right next to wind farms. I didn't care for the buzzing, moaning, drone they make. And if you see a bunch of them together, the spinning is kind of hypnotic.:eek:

Honestly though, we were pretty focused on the dogs, like always, and once there were birds flying we didn't really notice the wind turbines.

So... Yes I would hunt around them, but I would definitely prefer not to.
 
oldandnew said:
Can't we build these things where we actually need the power and we've already despoiled the ground to the point of uselessness?
Click to expand...

Wouldn't that make sense? When I have the misfortune of driving through and/or near Chicago, there's plenty of old garbage dumps that could house wind mills.

God knows the windy city has plenty of wind within politics and atmosphere.:D
 
Yes, I have and will again. I don't like them but I like hunting on a wind farm more than not hunting at all.

Steve
 
I've talked to several people that have looked at the contracts used for leasing ground for wind energy production. The contract either completely closes the ground to hunting or it requires the landowner to call in before each hunt so they can be held liable for any damage caused to the towers. I have hunted across the road from them and had good success on pheasants. I just boil when I see them in our quality chicken habitat though. The field north of Ellsworth is a prime example!
 
Hunted a couple WIA's in SW MN last year for opener and they had them on the land and well we shot plenty of birds off those fields. As long as the birds don't mind them I will keep hunting them because they didn't bother us.
 
Makes me sick to see the things going into grasslands and wildlife habitat.
I would NOT hunt near the towers for any reason. Nor would I hunt the land between the interstate highways or a parking lot. :(
 
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