Winnipesaukee Forum

Winnipesaukee Forum (https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/index.php)
-   Winni Wildlife (https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=30)
-   -   Pheasant (https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21836)

upthesaukee 03-30-2017 09:35 AM

Pheasant
 
I have not seen or heard a pheasant at our house in over 20 years, since a couple of houses were built across the street from our house. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7a0a9551d4.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...1ff7aab03a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0faea7f348.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...18a9d99f65.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...923fa560e4.jpg

Sent from my SM-G930V using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

ishoot308 03-30-2017 09:47 AM

One of the FEW that survived from a local stocking site. NHF&G estimates 100% death rate on post hunting season hold over pheasants from stocking sites due to harsh winters and predators. Nice to see one made it anyway!

Dan

upthesaukee 03-30-2017 10:17 AM

Thanks, Dan. My wife and I were totally shocked to see it right outside our windows. I had heard that pheasants were no longer "native", and were shocked by F & G. I I'm glad that I, and my kids, grew up hearing pheasants crowing and seeing the hen sheparding her brood. Ah, memories.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

MikeF-NH 03-30-2017 10:47 AM

I talked years ago to a F&G biologist who said what was said above...that they expect 100% mortality of holdovers. However, I have read about and talked to people over the years that say they see pheasant all the time including hens with broods. Especially in the southern half of the state. Cover seems to be the key. Cover to hide from aerial predators and cover to hide out from the elements. If there is cover...they will hold over. Food seems to not be the issue...especially with the prevalence of bird feeders in the bottom half of the state which is where they are most commonly seen.

That bird looks VERY healthy and well fed.

Airedale1 03-30-2017 11:09 AM

1 Attachment(s)
I've only seen one in the Lakes Region it was back in 2006 and it was in the vicinity of the RR tracks by the Mosquito Bridge on Winnisquam.

Even though the males are brightly colored, when there is good cover on the ground they can be next to impossible to spot when they crunch down and they don't need much cover to crunch down into.

Airedale1 03-30-2017 11:12 AM

1 Attachment(s)
In the crunched down position.

upthesaukee 03-30-2017 11:20 AM

When stationed in Idaho, I did some pheasant hunting, open fields and usually no dogs. You could almost step on them before they would flush, startling the heck out you. Once I picked up my shotgun, they were ususlly out of range 😁. Nice pictures.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Airedale1 03-30-2017 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee (Post 276398)
When stationed in Idaho, I did some pheasant hunting, open fields and usually no dogs. You could almost step on them before they would flush, startling the heck out you. Once I picked up my shotgun, they were ususlly out of range ��. Nice pictures.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

They are very stealthy birds.

ishoot308 03-30-2017 11:23 AM

You can tell a stocked bird by the clipped beak. If you look closely at upthesaukee's last picture you can see the tip of the beak has been clipped. This is done while they are in captivity when young to keep them from killing each other while in pens. I raised pheasants for a number of years and they are brutally cannibalistic! Once blood is drawn that bird or area on the bird becomes the focus point for beak killings.

Airdales bird is either wild or was missed when beaks were clipped which is not uncommon.

Dan


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:16 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.