The Helinet: A Device For Capturing Prairie Chickens and Ring-Necked Pheasants

A net 2.3 m X 2.4 m, made of number 248 knotless nylon with 2.5 cm mesh and attached to the skids of a Bell G-4A or Hiller helicopter, has proven effective in capturing Attwater's prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) and ring necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). More than 300 prairie chickens have been captured using the helinet technique at an estimated cost of $37.80 per bird. Death losses, attributable to the helinet capture techniques, were less than 4%. A total of 313 pheasants was captured at a cost of $37.39 per bird, with no known death losses. The helinet is portable, can be used throughout the year, and permits individuals of both sexes to be selected for capture.