forestry officials who have studied this bird's food habits. Usually 
the green pheasants glean waste or fallen crop products from fields, and 
except when their numbers might become over-numerous, little economic 
loss occurs. As only one-sixth of Japan's land area is under cultivation 
it is understandable that the slightest loss of food to pheasants may 
bring protests from farmers, 
As ardent hunting enthusiasts, the Japanese usually hold down the 
green pheasant populations. Forestry officials praise the green pheasant 
for taking so many insects which are potentially dangerous to forest trees. 
Usefulness 
As a source of food -- Green pheasants are excellent tasting, white- 
meated birds. Young birds are tender; old cocks may be on the tough side 
if not properly aged after shooting, but are similar in quality to the 
ring-necked pheasants. They may seem slightly dry to the more particular 
gormandizer. 
Trapping by mist nets, wire traps and snares brings some pheasants 
to the markets during winter months in Japan. Considered a delicacy, some 
birds apparently are shipped long distances to markets in cities such as 
Yokohama and Kobe. 
As fighting birds -- They are usually shy and non-aggressive except 
during the breeding season when male birds defend their territories, Green 
pheasants have not been trained as fighting birds as have junglefowl. 
As a game bird -- Green pheasants are probably the most popular game 
bird in Japan and a challenge to all who hunt these wary birds. Dogs are 
often used to flush them since the green pheasant tends to hold to cover 
as long as possible. 
On overgrown hillsides, sometimes impenetrable for hunters, birds 
flushed by dogs offer quick shots as they emerge over the brush. In 
sparse forest and brushy areas one is reminded of hunting ruffed grouse 
because of the manner in which the green pheasants swerve and fly low 
through the forest canopy. 
In northern Honshu near Morioka, a hunting party of three with two 
hunting dogs bagged five green pheasants and three copper pheasants in 
two days. This was in January with more than 12 inches of snow on the 
ground with temperatures ranging from 10° to 32°F. during the day, 
The usual procedure is to hunt the ridge roosts early in the morning, 
then the sunny resting grounds during the later daylight hours, Finally, 
the hunting is in and around farm lands near the evening hillside roost. 
Properly protected in Japan the green pheasants would appear able to 
maintain good population numbers. However, since hunting pressure has 
intensified during the past twenty-years, the Wildlife Section in Japan 
has increased releases of gameefarm pheasants in many areas. 
31 
