Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pheasants

I know pheasants can't swim but I thought with our vast knowledge base someone might have knowledge or an opinion. Our ranch is in N Tx. and we have excellent cover and quail. What do you think the odds of introducing pheasants on a survivable basis would be? Any takers? Any opinions?

I there a reason there are no wild pheasants in the area now? Keep in mind that pen raised birds typically have a very low survival rate when released into the wild as they are very easy prey.

As a side note, I went fisnihg out at our pond Sunday, I caught 4 LMB's in an hour, not to bad considering the water temps. Then I went pheasant hunting around the pond with the wife and dogs and I shot 1 rooster.

Dave Willis should respond. What is your current predator population? Most pen raised birds stand little chance even with cover if high predaotr pop. especially bobcats. I also think the summer heat would get to pheasants, Dave?

Buzz -- like Shorty, my first thought was why are there no pheasants there now? North Texas is too far south for my knowledge base, but west Kansas sure sustains good, wild populations. Southeast Kansas had essentially no pheasants, and I heard various "explanations" for that (high humidity, something missing in soil, but nothing that I could reliably pass on to you). I think I'd start with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Maybe you could track down their state upland game biologist. Why are there no pheasants in your location? Were they previously there? If so, an introduction of wild birds (good genetics) might prove useful. If they have been tried in the past, and failed, then probably save your time and money?? Hope those are helpful thoughts.

Here is what is says on their website. "Ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) are native to China but were introduced into the United States during the late 1800s. Populations in Texas are primarily restricted to the intensive agricultural farmlands of the High Plains and Coastal Prairies along the upper Texas coast. Pheasant releases by landowners and Texas Parks and Wildlife have contributed to the expansion of pheasants in these regions. Experimental releases of pheasants in Northcentral Texas have been unsuccessful except in the agricultural region of northern Wilbarger County where irrigated croplands and shelterbelts provide adequate year round habitat.

An open season for pheasants is designated for Wilbarger County in Northcentral Texas. Information on regulations for pheasants in other Texas counties is available in the Outdoor Annual. A hunting license is required to hunt pheasants in Wilbarger County."

So, that makes me think even more that you need to find the local expert (one of their upland game biologists).

We have coyotes and bobcats. Iwouldn't say an overabundance. We hav a pretty healthy population of quail, turkey and deer.

Buzz, I think it depends on where you are in North Texas. They have been successfully introduced to NW Texas with huntable populations.

I have been told by a gamebird grower that his opinion is it is to humid. That they actually drown in the eggs. He says further NW Tx. He said there is the belief that there is a river in OK(doesn't remember the name)that north of their they will reproduce and very far south of their starts getting iffy. Not sure why quail eggs vs pheasant eggs would have a difference in humidity requirements.

Rather than humidity it might be that frequnet rains in late spring with sparse nesting habitat combine to produce very few offspring. NE is quite humid in the late spring and early summer, our pheasant numbers tend to go way up in dry years and down in very wet years. Our wild pheasant numbers are very dependent on having good or bad nesting conditions in June & July. We are in the 5th year of drought and the pheasant numbers are better here than they have been in a long time.