Why do I have a question mark in the title of my story — that’s not a question but rather a statement? The reason for the question mark is because some people are wondering, “What’s a pheasant?”
I moved to this area from western Pennsylvania in the early 1970s, and a pheasant was a very rare sighting in that part of the state. In fact, I don’t ever remember hunting pheasants while growing up there.
When I came here in the early 70s, I found out what pheasant hunting was all about, and even without a dog, I was able to enjoy some great pheasant hunts. I even remember seeing pheasants crossing roads, and on occasion, wild birds would show up around my home.
Needless to say, those days are pretty much gone.
The fact is that during the late 60s and early 70s, pheasants and pheasant hunting flourished here, peaking in 1971 when more than 700,000 hunters took an estimated 1.3 million birds. Pheasant populations have been in decline across most of the state since the 1970s.
So, why the loss? There are probably a number of reasons, like changing farming practices, and an increase in population and urban development. We have lost 716,000 acres alone to urban development. The loss of suitable breeding and feeding habitats like hedgerows and immature woodlots with cover and brush is probably a major factor. Add to that an increase in the number of predators, and we begin to see why wild pheasants are pretty much gone here in Pennsylvania.
But wait, we still have a pheasant season! Yes, we do. In fact, the statewide pheasant season is already underway, starting on October 26 and running to November 29, again open from December 16-24 and December 26-February 28. There was also a Junior Hunt from October 12-19.
During the Junior Hunt, a pheasant hunting permit is required. Junior hunters under the age of 17 must obtain a free pheasant hunting permit, and those 17 and older must purchase a pheasant hunting permit for $26.97. Senior lifetime resident hunting or senior lifetime resident combination license holders who acquired their licenses prior to May 13, 2017, are exempt from needing a pheasant permit.
Of course, the reason we can still hunt pheasants in Pennsylvania is due to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s productive pheasant-raising and stocking program.
The Game Commission maintains four pheasant game farms, which distributed about 200,000 pheasants this year alone. One of those farms is close by; head up Route 87 and cross the Loyalsock Creek on your way up to Rose Valley Lake. Right after you cross the creek, you will spot hundreds, probably thousands of pheasants in the pens to the left.
Granted; it’s highly unlikely you will get to see any wild pheasants around here, but it’s good that we have a pretty successful raising and stocking program that keeps some pheasant hunting on the agenda.
Pheasants were not native to Pennsylvania or this country, in fact. They were first stocked in Oregon in 1881, and they were first stocked in Pennsylvania in 1915. I try to get out for a pheasant hunt on occasion, hope I can get a trip in this year. They are a fun bird to hunt and make a good meal.
