I agree- 100%. The smaller (80-120 A.) family farms here in Central MI that produced pheasants, and small game, and possibly with stream, ponds and swamps un-drained, waterfowl, are all nearly gone today, replaced by the "General Motors" farming operations: 3000 head dairy cattle, milked 3 times in 24 hours, computer tagged and controlled feed. The only thing that hasn't changed is the cowshit--

I remember the Soil Bank era- way better conditions for upland birds to hatch eggs, etc. Also, as a confirmed varmint shooter/hunter but NOT a trapper for pelts) I realize that every coyote or fox or raccoon or possum or skunk that "vaporize" with my SAKO .243Win. and 55 grain Hornady loads- is one less threat afield to ground nesting game. However, the "Airborne Prize Patrol"- crows mainly, some turkey vultures as well, also destroy pheasant eggs in the nest in late Spring.

I have resigned myself, at age 75, that the only pheasants I will most likely ever shoot again here in MI are pen-raised game farm raised-- easy to determine when you clean them, with the layers of yellow fat from all the corn and related feed they stuff down while in captivity. Sorta like the old line about the chronic gambler who lived all week for the Friday night crap game held in a local "blind pig"- and known for it's rigged dice and crooked "management"- When asked why he kept going there, in spite of his knowing all this- he replied: "Yeah, but it's the only game in town!"--

"The field is the touchstone of the man"..