2115 - GAME - STOCKING
Issued January 11, 1977

GAME - STOCKING

Stocking of game is a questionable practice except where special conditions exist.  In most instances it has not worked.  Experience has illustrated the principle that for stocking to work, a large ecological niche must be vacant and the stocked species must be suitable for the niche.  The ring-necked pheasant fully illustrates this principle.  The expansion of agriculture created a large area of habitat for which the ring-necked pheasant was adapted.

To illustrate a contemporary example, the Department is studying some northern agricultural areas and portions of the Thumb.  These areas, though not large ecological "vacancies", are important, and it might be worthwhile to try the Manchurian strain of ring-necked pheasants and perhaps bearded partridges in these areas when they are available.  However, stocking to bolster existing populations is costly and usually a waste of time and energy.

The Department is generally opposed to the stocking of any new game species but shall be alert for new situations or ecological changes that might warrant a stocking attempt.  Restoration of extirpated species such as the wild turkey and the experimental stocking of game on islands may be followed under carefully studied or controlled conditions.

Procedure is contained in Wildlife Division manual - No. 18.