Pheasant ID

[lunkerslayer]

I remember back probably 20+ years ago farmers or land owners buying and raising a different species of pheasant than the traditional ringed neck. Maybe I'm mistaken since I was not much of a bird hunter back then,.this pheasant species didn't have the white ring around it's neck a bird that could lay their eggs in trees. I believe that it was being raised because of the lack of crp that was no longer available less habitat. The bird was mostly raised in pens here on the eastern side of north dakota, I have looked up the different types of species of pheasant but the one I'm thinking of doesn't seem to be mentioned and that could be because it wasn't successful after it was released into the wild. Anyone remember or am I mistaken and it was just the traditional ringed neck that was raised to later to be released, it could be that the coop was only filled with the female bird and that's the reason I'm thinking it was a different species.

 

[gillraker]

I remember back probably 20+ years ago farmers or land owners buying and raising a different species of pheasant than the traditional ringed neck. Maybe I'm mistaken since I was not much of a bird hunter back then,.this pheasant species didn't have the white ring around it's neck a bird that could lay their eggs in trees. I believe that it was being raised because of the lack of crp that was no longer available less habitat. The bird was mostly raised in pens here on the eastern side of north dakota, I have looked up the different types of species of pheasant but the one I'm thinking of doesn't seem to be mentioned and that could be because it wasn't successful after it was released into the wild. Anyone remember or am I mistaken and it was just the traditional ringed neck that was raised to later to be released, it could be that the coop was only filled with the female bird and that's the reason I'm thinking it was a different species.

Sichuan pheasant was the species I believe, not sure how much effort was really put into making them a huntable population tho...

 

[Zogman]

Lunk, since you are up in Pembina Co have you been over run with Pheasant hunters this year?
I was up there last week and saw a few bouquets.

 

[riverview]

My dad bought 50 of them and released them on our farm. only time we saw them was when they were released.

 

[lunkerslayer]

No not much have I seen unfortunately likely the reason for this is because of the lack of habitat and much of the land posted. But yes there is a very good population of pheasants here but because of the times that has been a big discouragement for hunters.
@Rowdie what was the pheasant species that was pen raised and later released?

 

[bravo]

I recall a few states trying this. The theory is that Sichuan pheasants were a more alert and hardy subspecies of the common ringnecks, and would eventually interbreed and hybridize with our birds. Hybrids would still have the white ring neck markings, but be more adaptable to harsh climates. Whether that was working or not is anyone’s guess without looking at dna.

Trouble is, about 1% of pen raised birds (either species) survive to the next hunting season.

 

[Trip McNeely]

I recall “bohemian pheasants” not sure if it’s the same bird but it didnt have the ring. Remember seeing one a Handful of times in NE ND

 

[lunkerslayer]

Those birds you guys are mentioning must have never made it past the original hatch because north dakota doesn't even mention them.

 

[tikkalover]

If I remember correctly, they weren't hardy enough to withstand the winters.

 

[AaronJ]

My step-son shot one by Devils Lake this fall. Its at the taxidermist.