Pheasanst CAN survive up north

[Ely Lake Expert]

Our hunting land is close to whiteface resevoir. Fall of 2008 a friend that raises pheasants by Moose Lake brought a couple dozen up and released them to practice with the dogs. A couple of them got away and just within the last couple of weeks there has been a big rooster coming out in our fields. It has to be one of the escapees. Now I just wish a couple of hens would of gotten away. Seeing this really tempts me to raise and release a bunch for the future.

[LandDr]

Just remember that pheasants have limiting factors just like anything else. There is a reason why there are no pheasants or very few pheasants in certain areas...including northern MN.

It usually has to do with getting the hens thru the winter.

Plan, design and build the "winter core area" first and then add the birds. You will greatly increase the chances of success. Just as you would not plop your family down on a bare 160 acres in northern Minnesota and say good luck...you build the "house" first and then bring the family. You turn the heat on and fill the fridge with food.

Same thing with your pheasants...build your woody cover (shrubs and conifers and thick native grass if you have room for it) and food sources (feeders and food plots) and then add the birds once you have increased the carrying capacity. This will greatly increase the chances of getting hens thru the winter for the nesting season.

Then...I would also recommend working with a more northern hardy pheasant such as the ones the Ringnecks Forever More chapter out of Bertha, MN have. This is a bird from more northern China and more northern hardy...even nests a couple weeks later than our local pheasant. Their web site and contact information is RFM1.org if you want to contact them for availability of these birds.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out for you.

Land Dr