RING-NECKED PHEASANT The ring-necked pheasant, which became the state bird of South Dakota, is commonly found in agriculture farmlands with crops of corn, wheat, oats, barley or hay, or areas with grasslands mixed with small woodlands. Pheasant is a popular midwestern game bird, drawing hunters from across the nation each fall season.

 

Many hunters enjoy driving pheasants, particularly in Midwestern grain fields, stubble fields, high grass and corn where the birds live. You’ll need a number of hunters to conduct a proper pheasant drive. Divide the group into blockers and drivers, with more blockers than drivers. Have the blockers take stands at the far ends of the rows of corn, and let the drivers walk the rows, driving the birds to the blockers. Make the drive into the wind and toward fences, hedgerows or other cover at the edges of the field. Space the drivers closely – generally 15- to 20-yards apart.

Road hunting works very well late in the day when a hunter may spot a pheasant on the shoulders of farm and back-country roads. Then the hunter drives past the pheasant for at least 25 yards or so, stops, leaves his vehicle, walks the birds up and gets a shot.

Lone hunters or pairs of hunters can walk corn and stubble fields while zig-zagging across the fields, stopping frequently and doubling-back sometimes. Often pheasants will flush when the hunter pauses.

Particularly at midday when pheasants tend to rest in fencerows, hedgerows, grassy hillsides near fields and shelter belts as well as other cover, a hunter may find a flushing dog helpful.

Many hunters track pheasants in the wintertime when snow has fallen, since the pheasant’s three-toed, 3-inch tracks are easy to recognize.

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