Pheasant hunting is considered by many the most popular branch of the bird hunting and it has been that way for several centuries. It all started back in the 10th century when the birds were brought for the first time to the European continent. Despite the fact that the situation has changed in a significant manner in comparison to the early days of this sport, our long lasting passion for bagging birds has remained the same.

As many hunters know, pheasants are native to the Asian continent but over the last several centuries, they have been widely introduced in other places as well, where they are bred mostly for hunting purposes and are shot in rather significant numbers each and every year. In North America, the pheasants were introduced back in 1913, and since then, they have become very popular not for their food, but for the hunting pleasure.

There are many pheasant hunting tips available and if you talk to ten hunters, they will give you ten different recommendations. However, it all starts with where you can find this elusive upland bird.  Many hunters take to the fields on their own each year by testing their luck in state public hunting land such as SD's walk-in areas and still others book professional outfitters or hunting guides to lead their hunting party to the pheasant fields.  While many states have various quantities, South Dakota is well known as the top destination for pheasant hunting.   Across many parts of the state, pheasants thrive in the vast cover provided in native grasslands, river bottoms, shelter belts, river bottoms, corn & sorguhm fields.

Understanding where and what pheasants eat can give you an upper-hand when hunting.  Typically, they feed on the ground on grain, leaves and invertebrates, but have been known to roost in trees during the night hours. They nest on the ground, producing a clutch of about 10 eggs, over a 2-3 week period from April until June. The incubation period lasts between 23 and up to 26 days. The chicks will stay near the hen for several weeks after hatching but they grow quickly, resembling the adults by the time they reach only 15 weeks old. Their parents will protect them from potential predators and provide the necessary food. After that period, they are basically on their own.

Due to this reason, pheasants are very popular among bird hunters from all over the world due to their wild nature and the challenging hunting opportunity they offer.  This demand for hunting, has resulted in pheasants being raised intensively in farms.  In the present, pheasant farms account for approximately 10 million birds in the United States and 35 million more in the U.K.

There are many places to hunt pheasants, but if your interested in learning more about South Dakota pheasant hunting, check out the infmation we provide on our pheasant hunting page.