Gas Pains

Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.

Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.

Fast Pheasant Facts

Critters, Conservation, Outdoors, Terrific Cooking

Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus – commonly known as the ring-necked pheasant.

 USFWS Photo

Pheasants are not native to America. They’re originally from Asia and were introduced in the states back in 1857. Since then they’ve become well established and are one of the most popularly-hunted game birds around. They’re so popular that the ring neck pheasant is the State bird of South Dakota.

Habitat includes agricultural land, especially cultivated lands interspersed with grass ditches, hedges, marshes, woodland borders, and brushy groves. Are widely distributed North America.  

Breeding males will keep other males away from a small group of females during the breeding season. This practice is known as "harem-defense polygyny".

Are ground-nesting birds preferring tall grass or weeds.  Hens will make from one to four attempts at nesting during the spring nesting season.

They do not migrate.

Can run as fast as 8-10 MPH and fly at speeds close to 50 MPH.

Diet consists of berries, seeds, young shoots and insects.

During harsh weather conditions pheasants can remain on a roost for several days without eating.

Mortality is high.  Only about 3 out of 10 chicks survive to adulthood the spring after hatching.  A 2-year-old bird is a comparatively old ring-necked pheasant.  Birds that are 3 or more years old usually make up less than 5% of the population - whether they are hunted or not.

Pheasant is the foundation for some of the best pot pie around.

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