RING NECK PHEASANT

Ring neck pheasant are a popular game bird in Wisconsin, but are not native to the area. Pheasant are an introduced species that was brought to the U.S. from Asia in the 1880’s. Pheasant are ground nesting birds found in open fields, weedy roadsides, across the U.S. and southern Canada. The pheasant populations in Wisconsin were self- sustaining into the 1940’s. Populations declined when habitat availability decreased because of changing agricultural practices, and urbanization. In order to meet hunting demands, state game farms produce chicks that are released on state lands and harvested during the fall hunting season.