UPLAND GAME BIRDS 

 Ring-necked Pheasants 



Because the pheasant is restricted very largely to irrigated farm 

 lands within the state, the food habits of this game birds are of 

 particular interest. A study of their food habits was therefore chosen 

 as one of the early restoration projects. This work was conducted in 

 the Yellowstone and Big Horn valleys. Results indicated that the 

 destruction of insect pests and consumption of weed seed offset any 

 harmful effects in the use of agricultural crops. This study further 

 indicated that the consumption of agricultural grains was composed 

 for the moit part of waste seed. 



The need for additional winter cover has been studied. Although 

 this seems to represent one of the most important limiting factors in 

 several surrounding states, it seems of lesser importance in Montana 

 due to more abundant natural cover and less disastrous winter blizzard 

 conditions. Experimental work, however, is being carried out in the 

 Broadview area where cover plantings are being encouraged on a 

 cooperative basis with local sportsmen and landholders. 



An annual population census has been an important phase of the 

 program. Crowing counts during the spring give a reasonably accurate 

 indication of the over wintering population of birds. Roadside checks 

 carried out on a state-wide basis give workable information on the 

 late summer and early fall numbers upon which hunting regulations 

 are based. The accompanying chart indicates that pheasant popula- 

 tion has fluctuated from a high in the early 40's to a low in 1946 with 

 a general building-back trend thorughout the past several years. 



Survival studies during the past several years have indicated 

 that game faim reared pheasants furnish very small returns to the 

 hunter, particularly in areas where large wild populations thrive. 

 However, they are considered important in the re-establishment of 

 pheasants in seriously depleted areas or in the establishment of this 

 species in newly developed agricultural areas. 



FALL PHEASANT POPULATION TRENDS » 



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