Drive the back roads of central and northern Maine and the abundance of corn, grain, broccoli, and potato fields make it obvious that farming is an essential way of life in the Pine Tree State. What many folks don’t realize is that there’s another style of farming going on that has nothing at all to do with agriculture. A few years ago I coined the name “feather farming” for this enterprising combination of business and pleasure that has cropped up in several locations throughout the state over the last decade.

Feather farms are actually commercial shooting areas specializing in fair-chase hunts of upland game birds. Some of the elusive, fast flying species such as quail, chukar partridge, and Hungarian partridge are very popular in southern states, but due to our regional weather conditions, they are only huntable on feather farms. Without a doubt, the most popular quarry with resident hunters, as well as visiting sportsmen, is the vividly colored, fast running, far flying ringneck pheasant.

Pheasant stocking

For years, Maine’s Fish and Game Department had a very prodigious pheasant stocking program throughout the state. Since the birds had little chance of surviving the deep snow and freezing temperatures over most of the state, it was pretty much a put-and-take effort each fall. Local fish and game, or rod and gun clubs in various towns would build pens and raise a certain number of birds for release into dozens of fields all across their region.

In the beginning the state would match the member on a 3-to-1 basis, but this ratio decreased over the years due to reduced funding for the project, since the money came entirely from state coffers with no federal help at all. In the end, it was down to a 1-to-1 ratio, and in the early 90’s the money just wasn’t available anymore so the program was dropped. Twenty five years ago, opening day of pheasant season produced as much enthusiasm and excitement as partridge season, a sport that’s a true state tradition.

Unlike grouse, pheasant are hunted through open fields behind stylish pointers and setters. They would rather run, than hold for a point, and the raucous cackle of a long-tailed, vividly-colored rooster will stay with you a lifetime. Because of the short season and the limited number of birds available, not to mention their unlikely survival past November, pheasant hunting was and is a special hunting endeavor. Partridge hunting is like a monthly church social, enjoyable and dependable, while pheasant hunting is like the annual state fair; unique, flashy and short-lived. Commercial shooting areas may not match the grandeur of the fair, but they certainly offer the fun of a carnival and the option of regular visits.

Training territory

For many sportsmen, commercial shooting farms serve a far greater purpose than a few enjoyable hours of upland bird hunting. Breeders and trainers of hunting dogs and even individual outdoorsmen with a new pup to exercise and tutor, find bird farms to be convenient and practical. Rather than procuring their own game birds or pigeons, getting cages, transporting the birds and setting them out, they can just make a phone call, show up at a specific time and get right to work. It’s generally less costly, and certainly much simpler and quicker than buying all the gear and birds, and then doing all the work yourself.

Generally a sport has his hands full just working and handling the enthusiastic, young bird dog, without dealing with all the other preparation of a field workout. Even older, more experienced dogs can use a refresher course and tune-up after the long winter layoff, so an outing or two will aid them as well.

Another convenience of the commercial preserves is the chance to visit seven days a week, before work or after supper, or whatever time fits your personal schedule. Dog training should be an ongoing routine throughout the summer, so when Oct. 1 arrives, young dogs are better prepared and older dogs are fine-tuned. Some dog owners even have an agreement with bird farm managers to work their dogs during hunts for other groups in exchange for a price break on birds. Their dog gets extra work and money is saved. It’s a win-win situation.

Puppies aren’t the only young hunters that can get some training and seasoning by visiting a feather farm. Boys and girls who need to practice firearm safety and learn the fundamentals of wing shooting will benefit greatly from a trip with dad to hunt pheasant. Grouse hunting takes place in thick cover and flushes are sudden, which is tough on youngsters, while pheasant hunting is in fairly open fields, the birds are larger, a bit slower on the rise, and the well- trained dogs make flushes more predictable. Even older sportsmen who are neophytes at wing shooting will find a couple of visits to a game farm very beneficial.

More advantages

Many sportsmen, due to advanced age, illness or injury, aren’t able to get around in thick woods or rough terrain any longer, but most can tolerate the easy pace and open ground of a shooting preserve. John Hitchcock of Greenridge Pheasant Farm in Fort Fairfield used a medium-sized, four-passenger all-wheel vehicle to drive disabled hunters along behind the dogs. When a point occurs the sport can disembark right by the bird dogs and move forward at his own pace to flush the holding game birds.

Even outdoorsmen who are in good health may get a bit out of shape over the winter, and making a few visits to a commercial hunting area will help tone up a few forgotten muscles. Traipse after the dogs up hill and over dale for a couple of hours even at a moderate pace, and fitness will eventually catch up after a few outings. By October, when upland and waterfowl seasons begin, two- and four-legged hunters should be in prime condition.

Beyond the physical endeavor of each feather farm outing, the comfort, balance and coordination of handling a favorite shotgun needs to be reacquired as well. Unless a bird hunter shoots sporting clays or skeet regularly, his gun handling will require a bit of fine tuning, and nothing surpasses actual field work. Commercial preserves are an excellent mid-step training area between clay bird shoots and beating the brush for totally wild birds. Plan a few visits to a regional feather farm during August and September and your physical and shooting abilities should peak for the October seasons.

While upland gunning and waterfowling tend to be solitary or two-man outings, groups of half a dozen outdoorsmen can enjoy a commercial preserve hunt. A lot of business outings are taking place in the bird field rather than on the golf course over the last couple of years. There’s a primary shooter and a backup shooter that go in to flush the birds. Everyone in the group takes turns behind the dogs during the outing, and the rest stay safely in the background snapping pictures and taking note of misses, blown flushes and any other miscues that will make good stories for the office or at a later get-together.

Lastly, and for many sports the foremost reason for visiting a commercial bird farm, is the delicious meat. Pheasant can be enjoyed in so many wonderful recipes, and raised birds are big, healthy and very tasty. Chukar and quail are a rare treat for Mainers, and each has a unique flavor that makes them top rate table fare as main dishes and stews. Feather farm hunters get rewarded in the field as well as at the table.

Booking a hunt

Setting up a hunt at a commercial preserve is as easy as making a phone call. Owners and managers of these feather farms will set up an outing to fit your time schedule, group size and degree of hunting difficulty desired. Sunday hunting is legal and certainly an option if that’s a sport’s only day off from work. Each shooting area is between 200 and 400 acres, so it’s possible to hunt several parties a day without an interaction other than the distant sound of shotguns going off.

Numbers and species of birds to be released will be determined during the booking arrangements and the price per bird will be discussed. Most owners put a few extra birds out to assure a top-rate shoot, and gunners are generally charged only for the birds taken. For youngsters and novice wing shooters, the birds will be released a few hours before the hunt is scheduled, but for wilder birds and more challenging sport, birds can be released up to a day ahead of time. There are always a bunch of very wise birds scattered around that weren’t taken during the previous shoots, and they will test the dog’s and hunter’s abilities.

Only seven commercial shooting preserves exist throughout the entire state, and one is sure to be fairly close to you.

. Greenridge Pheasant Farm, Fort Fairfield – John and Nadeen Hitchcock, 207-472-1120

. Smoldering Lake Shooting Preserve, Bridgewater – Dave Hentosh- 207-429-0910

. Katahdin Game Farm, Houlton, Kim Morse – 207-538-4000

. Three Rivers Wing Shoot, Milo – Alden Estes, 207-943-7943

. Johnson Flat Hunting Preserve, North Vassalboro – Marc Day-, 207-873-0042

. Pointer Run Hunting Preserve, Rome – Malcolm Charles-, 207-397-4868

. Fox Pond Estate Game Preserve, Franklin – Walter Hennig, 207-546-3661

Sportsmen visiting commercial shooting areas aren’t required to have licenses, permits or stamps to enjoy a shoot. Bring a box of shells, a favorite scattergun, and a couple of friends- – two or four-legged, and partake of a new bird hunting experience. This month is the perfect time to get prepared for all the upcoming fall game seasons by visiting a farm. After all, baseball players begin in a farm league and work their way up to the big leagues. The only problem with beginning each year at a feather farm is you keep wanting to go back again and again.