A 1750 acre portion of the Merwin Ranch is set aside to be exclusively managed by Merwin Pheasant Hunting towards large pheasant populations for your hunting enjoyment.

Habitat is the main ingredient for bird propagation. At Merwin Pheasant Hunting, habitat is enhanced for all the known factors of propagation -- breeding, nesting, young chick survival, natural predator and extreme weather protection, year around feed and water, access to grit and the absence of farm equipment and livestock trampling.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) suggests pheasant habitat should be managed in blocks. A block should preferably be no bigger than 160 acres and no less than 40 acres. Multiple blocks within 3 mile ranges of each other enhances the entire area.

DNR further suggests each block should have a minimum of 40% grassland and considerable broadleaf plants such as alfalfa either intra seeded with the grass or a separate field very close to the grass. A food source such as a harvested grain field or food plot must be included in each block. A couple of acres of very dense cover is also necessary.

The grassland is to allow the hens to choose a protected nesting and early chick survival area. The broadleaf plants are good habitat for insects, which are the main food source for the chicks. The dense cover is for predator protection. The harvested field or food plot is for mature birds from early fall through winter and early spring.

Merwin Pheasant Hunting chose to manage each quarter section of land (160 acres) in 4 fields of 40 acres each. Three fields will be planted to a mixture of intermediate wheat grass and alfalfa. The other field will be planted to just alfalfa. A highly productive plot of 3 acres in each quarter will be seeded to switch grass in the center of the plot with a millet and cane mixture on the outside perimeter of the switch grass.

The switch grass gives the birds a dense cover for protection from predators with a good food supply immediately adjacent. These areas also provide great hunting in addition to the grass-alfalfa mixture fields.

Each grass-alfalfa mixture field of 40 acres will be harvested every third year to enhance productivity of the field. The alfalfa field will be harvested every year. Harvest time will be after the chicks have reached flying maturity.

In the middle of an area with three or four quarters, tree belts have been planted for severe winter weather bird survival. Winter supplemental feeding is supplied at each tree belt to enhance bird survival. These tree belts provide another great hunting experience.

After a field is hunted, it is rested for a minimum of three days to concentrate birds again and not drive them out of the area from too much hunting pressure. Because of the large hunting area available to a limited number of hunters at a time, the most likely scenario is a field will be rested for ten days.

Yearly each field will have two perimeter swaths cut to ground level in mid to late June to provide an open area for young chicks to get sunshine and dry off after a rain or heavy dew. The swathed windrows double as shade from the hot sun in the summer months and as predator protection. The swaths also provide a break in the cover during hunting, which helps hold the birds in fields being hunted.

In the areas we have completed all the habitat management factors, the bird populations have exploded beyond belief and many of the birds have spilled over to adjacent areas where only some of the factors are completed.

In 2008 all the factors will be complete except some of the tree belts for winter protection.

In the event CRP contracts are no longer available the land will continue to be operated with the same habitat management plan.

Any suggestions to enhance the management of habitat or service to our hunter guest are welcome.