They are still cool to watch gliding across the road

Pheasants.

Being from the center of the State, it was no big deal to watch pheasants in the wild. Well, I kinda was because the season was closed the first two years I could hunt them and then the bag was one rooster.

For the last twenty some years living the the St Croix and Mississippi River Valleys, sightings have been slim. In fact, I think I have more fingers and toes then number of birds I’ve since moving down here.

Yesterday in that wintery mix, I had 7 birds glide across the road not too far ahead of me. I slowed down to watch them land in the tall brown weeds that were laying almost horizontal from the sleet and rain.

Reminded me of a day when I would have jumped out of the truck with the ol Wingmaster and tried to scare one up close enough to have Mom’s pan fried pheasant for dinner had the season been open.

Had tuna salad with diced olives in it.

I remember a time in south dakota as a kid pheasant hunting with my dad where we watched birds flying across the road by the hundreds. It was like mosquitoes on a summer night there was so many.

It is a beautiful sight, but way too uncommon the last few years. Something magical about their color against the snow. I got this trail cam pic a couple years ago at home. I almost want to get it framed.

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I was headed home after work in ’08 during a winter snowstorm,I was approaching a bridge when I saw movement along the streams bank,two batches of roosters numbering fifty four in all headed for the safety of the thick bushes near it and the open water below it.
havent seen anything like it since,sure was good to see the seventeen hens and roosters combined across the road from my house sunday morning.

I wonder how many younger guys know that Pheasants are actually an invasive species not native to the USA?

Do you wonder if, in another 50 years, Asian Bighead Carp will be as desirable as the Pheasant is now? Both species came from the same part of the world.

As a kid here in SE Wisconsin during the winter we could count then along the fence lines. They were pretty common. Now, I think I have seen one or two in the last couple years, driving or anything. It is a special treat…. and cool to see. I miss not crossing paths with them more often.

That’s awesome Stick!!

I’ve talked to farmers that gave me the stories of the good old days when a person walked a corn field and right “about at the end the whole sky exploded”.
“People from the cities were putting them into the hub caps of their cars to smuggle over limits home.” “Game Wardens with dogs gave out a lot of tickets.”

Personally I’ve only seen 17 fly around a grove one day. DDT and drainage pretty much ended the heyday of the ’40’s and 50’s.

Asian carp? It would be interesting but I’m thinking not.

As a guy who picked up pheasant hunting 5 or so years ago, I really wish we’d see more!

Huntindave wrote:

I wonder how many younger guys know that Pheasants are actually an invasive species not native to the USA?

Why pick this thread to bring something like this? Besides, look up the definition of invasive species and compare that to non-native species, I am pretty sure you are using the term invasive wrong especially considering the numbers of birds and the fact they do not force any other wildlife out or cause harm to their environment…

I miss seeing pheasants effortless glide across a field into heavy cover. I don’t see them often where I live. Periodically there are a couple areas where I see a handful every now an then. Just last week I saw 8, so that is good. I also saw 6 coyotes there the week before that. Hopefully the pheasants steer clear of those critters.
So far I think this winter has been relatively good for them. Not a tremendous amount of snow, very little ice. Yes, we have had some bitter cold, but as long as they can pick through the little snowcover we had for food and have decent shelter they should survive that just fine. Hopefully we will have good nesting conditions this Spring.

No harm, no foul< see what I did there….Huntingdave.

Sticker that is a beautiful picture.

mxskeeter wrote:

Sticker that is a beautiful picture.

Agreed! I cannot believe it is smack dab in the middle of the frame.

CaptainMusky wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Huntindave wrote:</div>
I wonder how many younger guys know that Pheasants are actually an invasive species not native to the USA?

Why pick this thread to bring something like this? Besides, look up the definition of invasive species and compare that to non-native species, I am pretty sure you are using the term invasive wrong especially considering the numbers of birds and the fact they do not force any other wildlife out or cause harm to their environment…

If, instead of quoting a statement out of context, if you had quoted my entire response, you would know why I brought it up. The topic was Pheasants and I asked if someday, would the Asian Carp be viewed with the same regard as the Pheasant.
It’s just a simple discussion. No need to get your feathers ruffled.

No need to get your feathers ruffled. <<

That was for the birds.

Sticker.. very cool pic. The colors are beautiful!

Huntindave wrote:

If, instead of quoting a statement out of context, if you had quoted my entire response, you would know why I brought it up. The topic was Pheasants and I asked if someday, would the Asian Carp be viewed with the same regard as the Pheasant.
It’s just a simple discussion. No need to get your feathers ruffled.

If you hadn’t used the word “invasive” I wouldn’t have even quoted or responded to it at all. Apparently I’m not the one with feathers ruffled. I don’t know what the Ringneck Pheasant ever did to you, steal your garden vegies or something. #sarc.
TBH, I think your question about whether many knew the Ringneck pheasant is not native to the US is legitimate. The way the populations are these day some people wonder if they ever existed here…