Parkerized
 

Hunted the marshes today. I Was able to "Parkerize" a couple more pheasants. It Was a hard hunt, six hours straight with no break. Mostly in heavy cover...Benny put up a rooster at about 9:30 in some reeds. Was able to take it down with the second shot. Many of the reeds are five to six feet tall, so you are almost on top of the birds when they fly. Sometimes you hear them without ever seeing them and their gone! Can be tricky. After a few more hours he was able to pick up a scent and he put up the second Rooster.... We are both home now licking "our" wounds, LOL.... It's tough getting old....

Please tell us what strain of pheasant that brown bird is. It's coloration is not that of our common "Chinese Ringneck Pheasant". I've never seen the brown one before and would like to know more about it and the country of it's origin.

Thanks, Dean

I'd say you earned those birds William. Those leaves look dangerous! ch

Dean I think the bird your referring to is a Seschwan strain. I know I'm not spelling it correctly but without the high tech spell check function you'll have to be hooked on phonics:rotf:.

I assume these were released birds which given the correct habitat can be a very worthy advasary even for a Parker gun:)

Sichuan Pheasant
 

I would have to agree with Richard on the type of pheasant. To be honest with you this is the first time I ever harvested a bird of this breed. I did a search on the net and I found some info. on the Sichuan Pheasant. It seems to be some type of cross breed and is from China. It was introduced in hopes it would take to the wild. There was a big program in the state of Mich. in hopes to replenish the stocks of wild pheasant. During the middle of last week while hunting, I also took a Melanestic Pheasant. It is almost all black with blue feathers. Pretty bird. On the net is says this type of bird is a full breed pheasant:cool: Suppose to adapt to the wild much easier..... About ten years ago, I harvested a Melanestic in the same area. I have enclosed some more photos of both the Sichuan Pheasant and the Melanestic..... From what I have read there are 49 different breeds of pheasant, plus some sub species....

Reeds
 

Not so much dangerous. The reeds tend to cut up the dog and it is hard on your legs...

I shot one of the Melanistic birds over 20 years ago. I believe the state released those as well in hopes of boosting the Pheasant population.

I remember seeing pictures of the melanistic pheasants in Field & Stream or Sports Afield back in the sixties.... they've been around a long time..... come to think of it, so have I :shock:

Trigg and I got a melanisitic bird in Utah when we hunted at Castle Valley. V pretty bird that would make a gorgeous mount.

Richard, I took your suggestion on the Melanestic Pheasant. I dropped it off at the Taxidermist tonight! I most likely will never see another one in this area....