| While the population of ring-neck pheasants is now | | | | characteristics of each one to decide where to |
| healthy and plentiful in the state of Texas, it | | | | hunt, and the type of supplies he'll need for his |
| wasn't always the case. The bird wasn't | | | | hunt. Depending on the area, pheasant season |
| introduced to the state until 1933, and it did not | | | | begins at different times, with the shortest |
| flourish; none were seen after 1939. While a few | | | | season in the Panhandle during the month of |
| were added by local landowners in the Panhandle, | | | | December only. However, the Panhandle offers |
| the majority of the pheasant population in the | | | | the largest population of ring-necks and is often |
| early days began to trickle in from Oklahoma. By | | | | the hunter's first destination for pheasant hunting |
| 1946 the Texas ring-neck population was only | | | | in Texas. A game bird stamp is required to hunt |
| about 1,000 birds. By the 1950's, however, | | | | pheasant, and there are many different types of |
| farming practices began to change, including the | | | | terrain the hunter will find just in the Panhandle |
| practice of irrigation which became much more | | | | alone, from grain fields, creek bottoms, to shelter |
| favorable for pheasant habitat. Because of the | | | | belts. |
| boom in the population hunting the birds became a | | | | There are also plenty of guide services available if |
| great success. | | | | the hunter should want to enlist their help. A guide |
| By the 1980's, however, agricultural practices had | | | | can be an indispensable resource as he knows the |
| shifted again causing a decline in the bird | | | | terrain intimately and the habits of the birds. Many |
| population. Farmers did away with row irrigation | | | | outfitters will offer lodging, guides, and even dogs |
| replacing it with center-pivot systems and were | | | | for the hunter's use. It's important for a hunter to |
| working the land much more intensively which | | | | do his research ahead of time as guide services |
| decreased viable pheasant habitat. Many | | | | often book up fast with many hunters returning |
| conservation programs in the state have made | | | | from the previous season. A service will be happy |
| efforts to create lands and reserves to | | | | to answer any of your questions and tell you the |
| encourage the development of the pheasant. | | | | supplies and equipment you may need to bring, if |
| The state of Texas is so large that there are | | | | any. Also, the service offers thousands of acres |
| many different terrains and landscapes available to | | | | of land available for the hunter to enjoy his Texas |
| the pheasant hunter. He must know the | | | | pheasant hunt. |