in 2006 in order to provide quality hunting opportunites. Which is to say they "put" the pen raised birds out to be "taken" by hunters. Note that they are put out EVERY week. They aren't expected to survive either the hunting or nature.
I'm not going to attempt to defend the blood sport that Cheney's excesses with his entourage create, but 'put and take' hunting is a common way of providing hunters access to hunting experiences and it is done in both private hunting clubs and by state game departments.
This clip from the WIDNR website:
The Department of Conservation began stocking pheasants at the inception of the State Experimental Game and Fur Farm in 1928. WDNR continues to stock captive-raised ring-necked pheasants on public hunting grounds; however, philosophy on the stocking program has changed over time. Initially, pheasants were stocked to bolster the wild pheasant population and to provide quality pheasant hunting opportunities. Subsequent research has proven that, over time, stocked pheasants do not have the survival instincts to evade predators or hunters long enough to contribute to the wild pheasant population. Current stocking efforts aim at providing quality pheasant hunting opportunities on public hunting grounds. In 2006, WDNR stocked 52,000 adult pheasants on 70 public hunting grounds in 29 counties. Pheasants are stocked weekly beginning the week before opening weekend through November on most properties. Some properties are stocked in the month of December.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/gamefarm/phg.htmIf Dems want to throw away the votes of hunters they would keep making a deal out of shooting pen-raised birds. But excuse me, none of the candidates for national office do make a big deal out of it!