Ring-necked Pheasant Release
The Release of some Ring-necked Pheasants
Today we released a few dozen Ring-necked Pheasants for an early kids hunt scheduled for this Saturday. They have such stunning colors that I had to take a few photos of them. The big release will be next week before the official start of the season.
Ring-necked Pheasants Taking Flight!
She just isn’t sure if she should go or not!
Something coming overhead . . . better get flying!
We didn’t see the Red-tailed Hawk dive on any of these birds but they were circling overhead checking things out. I would have to believe some of the local hawks might be more efficient in catching these Pheasants than the kids are.
Red-tailed Hawk coming in for a closer look!
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Great shots! That must have of been exciting!
12 October 2007 at 7:35 pm
@ Birdbander 11 – thanks was fun for sure!
12 October 2007 at 7:55 pm
We have a hawk in our neighborhood, I live just a few blocks from the country and I thought it odd that a hawk would be that close to town. The Pheasants are so pretty. ~nita~
12 October 2007 at 8:39 pm
These are beautiful birds, Tom! I hope the kids have fun tomorrow.
12 October 2007 at 9:14 pm
The Pheasants are very beautiful. Do the kids hunt with cameras???
Great photos. Red Tailed Hawk is gorgeous too.
Do you use a filter on your camera for the sky shots?
Sherry
12 October 2007 at 9:15 pm
Great pictures, as always. More comments on Flickr.
12 October 2007 at 9:28 pm
@ nita – hawks feed on starlings, pigeons, etc.. I use to live down town Pittsburgh and I saw a Coopers Hawk and Kestrel on a regular basis.
@ Pam – thanks and this is our first year for the early hunt with the kids! Should be interesting to see if they turn out alright!
@ Sherry – thanks and they are allowed to hunt only with a permit and an adult with them before they are allowed to shoot the pheasants.
@ Grace – thanks and will go check!
12 October 2007 at 10:04 pm
Great pictures as usual Mon@rch. I always look forward to what might be posted here.
12 October 2007 at 10:04 pm
You know me I’m looking at the colors in those birds.
Awsome. Hope the kids have fun and stay safe.
12 October 2007 at 10:12 pm
The Minnesota pheasant hunting season opens tomorrow. I didn’t even buy a license this year. If hubby decides to take our old dogs out for one last hunt, I’ll just walk along with my camera. Habitat loss and a hunting season that lasts far too long will be the downfall of these beautiful birds in our SE MN area.
12 October 2007 at 10:43 pm
These birds are far more rare today in WNY than when I was a kid in the 50’s and early 60’s. However, it is more directly attributable to the loss of farmland and its return to light woodlands. The pheasants really liked those farmers hedgerows and cornfields.
12 October 2007 at 11:58 pm
So pretty. You sure have a knack with that camera!
We have a few around here, but only stocked birds as they are not native and don’t thrive with the downfall of small farms and small grain production. It is always a treat to see one and my son would like to raise a batch one of these years. Some years someone’s stocked bird will hang around the house and barnyard until a fox or coyote picks it off. We love to watch them.
13 October 2007 at 6:35 am
I had an uncle who would raise pheasants for release on his property. They are the best looking game bird, I think.
13 October 2007 at 9:50 am
Nice photos! I’ve learned my lesson to stay clear of Pheasent hunters, as I’ve been pelted with birdshot before.
13 October 2007 at 3:45 pm
Those inflight shots are awesome!
13 October 2007 at 10:40 pm
@ Barb – thanks and I try to keep posting different things on here!
@ Toni – thanks and those are some great colors!
@ RuthieJ – For sure take your camera! Lots of pictures are good!
@ Mike – our stocked birds really don’t survive will be once in a blue moon an individual will make it through the winter!
@ Threecollie – blush, thanks! So glad that you are from time to time able to enjoy them!
@ Jeremy – That had to be fun to raise them and hope they at least stick around his property!
@ Larry – O No! You know during Goose season I had some pellets go over my head!! Hmm back around 2001 ish! I can still remember hearing the pellets flying through the air!
@ Marg – thanks my friend!
14 October 2007 at 11:51 am
Would it be wrong of me to hope that none of the kids are successful? Pheasant are almost extirpated from around here, so seeing a successful release that won’t end up in hunting seems like a more pleasant thought to me…
Of course, you’re saying that they don’t usually survive the winter, so I’m not sure which is better…
15 October 2007 at 12:54 pm
Releasing such large,beautyful birds so that they can be living targets for kids who will blow them out of the sky — and call it “sport”, sends the wrong message about the value of that bird’s life.
What is wrong with using that common bird — the clay pigeon — to sharpen one’s eye and reflexes with a shotgun ? Best of all, clay pigeons do not have to be fed and do not bleed and die when hit.
15 October 2007 at 2:50 pm
@ Marty – north of here they are not able to release hens because they are successful in over wintering! But the many birds that they do release probably feed many of our local animals (including our hunters)! Once in a blue moon you will find a pair that makes it throught the winter.
@ Cestoady – sorry you feel that way. I am not a hunter but still support the local hunting community! As you know, it is their money that purchases many important wetlands, public lands, etc.. that helps protect those other animals who need the protection. They have things like a dusk stamp that you can purchase (and not hunt with) that goes directly back to purchasing more land for conservation! I am one who supports the government to tax binoculars and photographing equipment to go towards these same efforts that the hunters are all paying for! But, of course too many photographer and bird watchers lobby not to let that happen!! So for now we need to support our hunters!
15 October 2007 at 5:16 pm