Class: Aves

Order: Galliformes

Family: Phasianidae

Genus: Phasianus

Species: colchicus

Ring-necked Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Main Menu:

Description

Range and Distribution

Reproductive characteristics

Habitat Requirements

Diet

Predators

Management

Literature Cited

Management of the Ring-necked Pheasant

The Ring-necked pheasant is not listed as endangered, threatened, or as a species of concern, it is listed as a game bird (Giudice and Ratti 2001). Harvest management strategies for ring-necked pheasant include leaving more hens for reproduction (http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pheasant/pheasant.htm 2002). One cock can mate with three or more females. (http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pheasant/pheasant.htm 2002).

Raising pheasants is a successful aviculture method (Johnsgard 1999). Pheasants are not expensive, and captive birds can still mate and maintain a large gene pool (Johnsgard 1999). In Littlefield, TX there is a pheasant farm, where they are bought and raised for release in Lamb County. Many state agencies raise and release pheasants. New York raised and released 2,400,000 pheasants from 1920-1950 and the Pennsylvania Game Commission raised and released over 7,916,000 pheasants from 1929-1998 (Diefenbach et al. 2000). Although, stocking habitat can increase disease introduction(http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pheasant/pheasant.htm 2002).

Some tools that could be used for managing ring-necked pheasant habitats in Texas would be not mowing roadways, and keeping track of the number of pheasants harvested by hunters. A modern management tool for pheasant is providing nesting cover, and good winter cover (Giudice and Ratti 2001). Stocking and predator control are also used for management purposes (Giudice and Ratti 2001). Stocking predator control and finding winter forage is costly and needs a lot of manpower (http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/pheasant/pheasant.htm 2002). The Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix), and Greater Prairie-Chicken along with other nesting species may be in competition for habitat with the ring-necked pheasant (Giudice and Ratti 2001).