Maintaining Healthy Pheasant Population - Reasons For Its Importance

Hunters have long been the driving force behind wildlife management and conservation efforts throughout North America. Hunting plays a significant role in controlling the population of a species; over-population can lead to endangered habitat and diminishing numbers in other species. Pheasant season was meant to control the excessive population of pheasant throughout the country, and many states even offer two seasons per year because of their large numbers. While the time of year seasons are held depends upon the species and requirements of the state, the normal pheasant season runs from about the 1st of October through the 1st of February in most areas.

In order to maintain a healthy population, it is only the roosters that may be hunted in pheasant season. After much research and many studies it was found that 80-90% of the rooster population can be harvested during open season without affecting next spring’s hatch because roosters mate with so many hens. While the pheasant population may fluctuate from year to year based upon environmental changes, it’s been found that shortening the hunting season or limiting the bag amount will not help to increase the population any more effectively than the roosters-only regulation.

Some states have such a healthy pheasant population that they offer two hunting seasons; an early one and a later one. Many of the birds encountered in the later season tend to be much more active and high-strung than those found in the early season. This could be because the birds have wised up to the fact that they’re being hunted after the early season. While it is always necessary to be as quiet as possible while pheasant hunting due to their great sense of hearing, the birds in the early season tend to be easier to hunt. Also in the later season the birds often seek a heavier cover, both because of their weariness from the earlier season, and because of cooler temperatures. It’s important, especially in this second season, for the hunter to check denser cover; many hunter’s walk past these birds not expecting them to be hidden so well.

While the earlier season the birds are plentiful and somewhat easier to find, it’s a good idea to wait to hunt until after the first week’s excitement dies down. Many hunters flock to the field in that first week and safety can become an important issue. It’s smart for a hunter to wait through this first week and then comb back over the areas that hunter’s have already been through. Short grass and crop fields are great places to find pheasant in the early season, but as soon as the population has decreased a bit, these often become hens-only spots. With a little planning and forethought a hunter can have a great time hunting for pheasant.



Contributed By: Abhishek Agarwal

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