Release the Pheasants

Last week, I went out with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as they released pheasants at Salt Creek WMA just before the start of the hunting season. This year, Utah is drastically increasing the number of birds being released. I also shot a video which you can find here, along with an article and more photos. Enjoy some of the selects below.

Mason Asay, center, releases a pheasant at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area under the watch of Randy Berger, right, on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Berger, the wetland manager, released over 300 pheasants the day before the start of hunting season. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Wetland Manager Randy Berger examines the beak of a captive-bred pheasant before its release at Salt Creek WMA on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The bird was raised with blinders in order to keep it from attacking other pheasants. The blinders are an alternative to the old method of trimming beaks.  (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Dustin Mitchell releases pheasant sat Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The release was the largest ever in the area. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Brothers Gavin, center, and Mason Asay, right, hold on to pheasants before their release on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The Asays happened to be visiting Salt Creek when the birds were released and DWR staff let them take part. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

The beak of a ring-necked pheasant pokes through a wildlife box on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Three-hundred-and-twenty birds were brought to Salt Creek, packed in boxes of ten. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Dustin Mitchell, center, and Joe Girot, right, open a box of pheasants at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area while Randy Berger waves one of the released birds towards the habitat area on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

A lone pheasant remains near the truck after being released at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. Most of the birds flew off immediately, but some stood around until DWR employees chased them off. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

Randy Berger, left, and Dustin Mitchell release pheasants at Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Area on Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is releasing 11,000 pheasants in preparation for this year's hunting season. (BENJAMIN ZACK/Standard-Examiner)

You can find more photos here.