The Hunted

Pheasant

Our Pheasant Hunts
Traditional field hunts have been our specialty at Ringneck Ranch for over 20 years. With our covert development and over 12,000 hunting acres of prime upland gamebird habitats, we are able to provide an opening day experience every day.

We consider pheasant hunting parties of 4-6 to be ideal. Individuals and couples are still welcome, but sometimes handicapped. Groups of 7 or more are usually divided and with each hunting party allocated one of our staff with a 4 door four-wheel drive truck that acts as a guide and dog handler for your stay at Ringneck Ranch.

The article about hunts at Ringneck Ranch by Mike Pearce on the home page does a good job of conveying the essence of the experience we offer our guests. Please contact us if you have specific questions or call Keith or Debra at 785-373-4835.

History of the Pheasant
The Chinese Ringneck Pheasant was introduced to Kansas early in the last century and it has thrived in the agricultural environment of the north central portion of Kansas. The advent of the conservation reserve program of the 80's in establishing large tracts of warm season grasses generated the last great serge in harvested populations.

In 2003, we saw a continuing recovery of our native pheasant numbers after 4 successive years of severe drought, which stifled successful hatching and brooding.

Weather and habitat fluctuations cause annual variations, but Kansas consistently ranks among the top states as a pheasant hunting destination. Historically, best regions are the northcentral, northwestern, and southwestern parts of the state although some good pheasant hunting can be found in the central and northeast, as well. Local populations in a given year are largely dependent on weather. Upland hunters are likely to encounter pheasants throughout Kansas, except in 15 southeastern counties where pheasants are absent.

A liberal season stretching from the second Saturday in November through January 31 allows hunters ample time to enjoy the pursuit of these wily birds. Hunting strategies change as winter approaches. The first few weeks of the season are often marked by mild temperatures and good success because pheasants are at peak populations and young birds are inexperienced with hunters. However, birds wise up quickly and become harder to pin down as weather becomes colder. Fewer hunters brave severe conditions, reducing the competition and allowing pheasants to settle back into their normal routines. A snowstorm can be a great advantage for the hunter, concentrating birds in areas of heaviest cover. Many veteran pheasant hunters prefer the late season.

Hunting tactics change throughout the day, given a pheasant’s rather predictable movement patterns. Pheasants leave roosting areas at sunrise, often stopping to pick gravel along roadways before feeding in crop fields. Corn, soybeans, and milo stubble are preferred feeding sites. After feeding for an hour or two, pheasants may return to roosting cover or move into grassy cover adjacent to feed. Loafing through midday hours, they return to feed in late afternoon before flying to roost at sunset. Bird movement seldom exceeds half a mile during the day. Knowing these patterns helps a hunter be in the right place at the right time.

Some information is from KDWP's Kansas Outdoor Review.