This was sent to me from a birder/hunter friend who lives in Metolius and
Portland.
Begin forwarded message:
From: TimBickler@xxxxxxx
Subject: Pheasants Again
Date: January 12, 2016 12:58:34 PM PST
To: jeffgilligan10@xxxxxxxxx
Obol. There are lots of wild pheasants in Oregon in appropriate habitat. The
main factor year to year is spring weather. Too much rain and the checks die
from exposure, and the hens will renest but with smaller clutches. Too little
rain and there's not enough bugs for the chicks to eat, and that's what they
eat when they are small, and they starve.
Its not unusual to flush 20-40 hens in a day in a decent year, and hopefully
a few roosters within shooting range. They tend to run and flush way beyond
range This is in places nowhere near a commercial pheasant operation. They
are extremely wary and very smart. You need a dog to find them and to get
them up. The other way to get a population approximation is to survey fields
in spring in the evening, especially where winter wheat is sprouting
