rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
UNION TOWNSHIP — Nestled on a hill in Union Township, Tioga County, lies Windy Hill Fowl, a business not like many around the area.
It’s been three years since Owners Amanda and Travis Pepper started a job for the Pennsylvania Game Commission in Cambridge Springs to tear down a 130-acre pheasant farm. It was there, after eight weeks of hard work, they decided their future.
“My husband, myself, and our four kiddos lived in a camper for eight weeks and worked, and I mean worked, from sun up to sundown. Lots of sweat, tears, but some great times, conversations, and great satisfaction once it was completed,” said Amanda Pepper. “People (were) stopping in disbelief of the progress that our family was making. Wondering where all of his help was, not believing it was just himself, his wife, and four kids.”
After they finished cleaning up the pheasant farm, they salvaged some of the materials and gave the “birding” business a try.
“I’ve always wanted to use some of our acreage at home,” said Amanda, whose home sits just outside of Ogdensburg, along Route 414. The preserve spans 130 acres.
If bringing more than two hunters, you may consider adding more birds to make it more fun. A full day costs $400.
There are many options when planning your hunt. They also offer guide service with dog and have some great local individuals who share their expertise of bird hunting and their beloved dogs to give you a great experience.
“Typically, hunters spend about a half day. My prices are competitive,” said Amanda, who sees quite a few regulars come to hunt.
She has full-grown, flight-ready pheasants, chukar, and quail available for purchase to hunt on their property. The hunting season is typically from Sept. 1 until March 31, Mondays through Saturdays.
“Chukar birds are the only ones (we carry) that aren’t regulated by the game commission, but quail and pheasants are, so that is why our season is from September until March. Also, a lot of people don’t want their dogs out working while it’s hot.”
Quail are small, short-tailed “old world” game bird resembling a small partridge, typically having brown camouflaged plumage. “Those are typically the birds hunters will use to train their dogs,” said Amanda.
Pheasants on the other hand, are typically hunted for food, sport, or prize, because of the beauty of the males. Male pheasants are more colorful than the brown females. Pheasants love thick brush to hide in.
“You don’t want them to run, you want them to fly, when on a hunt,” said Amanda. “People want birds that are flight-conditioned.”
Chukar and pheasants are the bird of choice for most hunters at Windy Hill, though both are very aggressive birds that need their space.
This year, they had 1,400 ring-neck pheasants, which is the only breed of pheasant she currently works with. Quail was 400 and chukar was about 800. She has another batch of chukar coming soon.
“Currently, I don’t have a big enough area to ‘start’ birds in,” she said, referring to her barn at the beginning of the property.
Currently, it holds chukar and bobwhite quail chicks, who both need a consistent high temperature at their young age.
Paying close attention to these birds at this stage is crucial, because they can die without the proper heating technique.
“As these birds mature they need adequate space because if not, they tend to attack each other,” she said. “For pheasants we put ‘blinders,’ on them to help,” she said, to help deter the aggressiveness.
These fowl needs high-protein food and will require a special mix for the first six weeks of their life.
A little over a month they are able to leave the heated barn, going to a bigger pen in the back of the house until they are at their final “stage” and ready for hunting.
“A mature pheasant is about 20 weeks old,” said Amanda. “Hunters want birds (pheasants) with super-long tails. We strive to provide quality, healthy, great flying birds.”
Amanda says she has future plans to one day be able to hold clay shooting, possibly a competition shoot with the school district, as well as a building that is more suited for raising the birds.
“Regardless of where this takes us I’m forever thankful for the time we had together and the learning that took place. Our mission for Windy Hill Fowl is for people to escape the crazy and make some great memories. God is so good,” she said.
Gift certificates are now available for purchase towards a future hunt. It makes a great gift for the hunter in your family.
For more information or to schedule a hunt, go to their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/atpepperbirds.net or call 570-673-3320.