Where have all the pheasants gone?

[blackdog2086]

Not sure if this is just a regional occurrence or if it's more widespread, but pheasants in my area have all but disappeared. Going back 20-25 years you couldn't walk through a field or woods without kicking up a few and now I'm lucky if I see one or two a year. As a kid I hunted them regularly but now even going out to hunt would be nothing more than an excuse to take a stroll outdoors.

On the flip side, as a kid seeing a wild turkey was like spotting bigfoot and now I can hardly look out my front window or drive down the road without seeing at least a few and sometimes dozens.

 

[smstonypoint]

Not sure if this is just a regional occurrence or if it's more widespread, but pheasants in my area have all but disappeared. Going back 20-25 years you couldn't walk through a field or woods without kicking up a few and now I'm lucky if I see one or two a year. As a kid I hunted them regularly but now even going out to hunt would be nothing more than an excuse to take a stroll outdoors.

On the flip side, as a kid seeing a wild turkey was like spotting bigfoot and now I can hardly look out my front window or drive down the road without seeing at least a few and sometimes dozens.

I'm located well outside the range of pheasants, but bobwhite quail have all disappeared in my area.

My experience is similar to yours in that I now see wild turkeys, at least on a semi-regular basis. I have heard that wild turkeys are at least partially responsible for the disappearance of quail and other game birds, but there does not appear to be any scientific evidence to support that claim -- Gobble, Strut and Wattle: We’re Talking Turkey • The National Wildlife Federation Blog : The National Wildlife Federation Blog.

The main culprit appears to be loss of suitable habitat for game birds. The establishment of better quail habitat on my farm is high on my bucket list.

Steve

 

[boomer1025]

Same here in central PA, no pheasants and lots of turkeys

 

[teejk]

Back in the day a 160 acre farm was often fenced into smaller parcels and those fence rows were ideal hiding spots. Bigger tractors/combines require the removal of all those. We have a lot of CRP land in places but those are often huge fields with only grass as cover. It's not the same. I'll also echo the thoughts on the reintroduction of the wild turkey.

 

[EddieWalker]

Not sure if this applies, but I read that game bird populations can be significantly affected by how close to the fence line you mow, and how much natural cover is left for them on a farm. My State Biologist here in East Texas told me that the biggest reason we don't have turkeys anymore is that the natural habitat, what the land was like 200 years ago, is not the same anymore. Over the decades, the land has been cleared, logged, farmed and then gone wild again. When it goes wild, you get a massive amount of small trees that choke out everything else. It will take a thousand years for Mother Nature to make it right again.

 

[oosik]

There never have been any pheasants here. Lots of CA Topknot quail and a few grouse. However, speaking of how things have changed over time - when I was a kid - 65+ years ago - I would come here to the property and hunt ducks. Now - the duck population is greatly reduced but tremendous increase in greater Canada geese. Its been said the change is mainly due to the farmers change in type of wheat planted. It was, at one time, tall willowy wheat - now its shorter, tougher stalked wheat. Use to be the Game Dept paid the wheat farmers to leave a small percentage unharvested for the waterfowl - don't do that any more.

And, of course, those damed nasty turkeys the game dept introduced about fifteen years ago. They are taking over the world around here. God help you - should you choose to feed them. You best have a tall pair of Mucks. I've seen yards where they are being fed - nasty, just nasty - slippery, slimy, stinking. And what a big 'ol fresh, hot pile of turkey crap will do to the clear coat finish on your car - - worse yet, on your tractor...................

 

[Mendonsy]

Basically the same story in western NY. Pheasants once were common, but I haven't seen one in years. There are some turkeys around, but not many.

 

[atsah]

Same here, no pheasants and lots of turkeys.. I see a partridge once in awhile though and I do see woodcock also now and again..

 

[Jstpssng]

Pheasants in Maine were a stocked species, and never really took hold. It may be sheer coincidence but as the turkey population rose the grouse population dropped; where I used to shoot 30+ of the former every year now I may take one or two. Grouse are ground nesting birds and I find myself wondering if the turkeys are feeding on the eggs; I know that my hens will eat their own when they get bored or I forget to give them oyster shells.

 

[fishheadbob]

Basically the same story in western NY. Pheasants once were common, but I haven't seen one in years. There are some turkeys around, but not many.

All the N.Y. pheasants were stocked birds at first; they were Hungarian pheasants. There was some reproduction but over hunting (they were dumb birds) along with the loss of habitat as others have mentioned, spelled their demise. The D.E.C. put their money elsewhere. There are still a few around but they start as purchased poults and Pheasants Unlimited along with a few other hunting groups pay kids in 4H clubs to raise them. When they are released the group members know when and where, those semi-domestic birds don't last long.
When I saw my first turkey I didn't know what it was. My local flock can hit 20 in a decent year. There are so many deer they have become a nuisance. Not nearly as many hunters as there used to be.