Here in Pa., at one time in the area where I live now, was probably the pheasant capital east of the Mississippi, back in the 70's mid 80's. Stockings were done when the birds were 5-6 weeks of age on lands that farmers didn't post. Many survived as this area only had a month season of males only and 2 a day. In the spring going by plowed fields you could see them with hens, and hear them crowing.
That was then, now it is like an endangered species to see one. Too many foxes, coyotes, hawks and racoons. The state doesn't release the young ones any more, and now in this section you are allowed to shoot hens and the season runs to Feb.7, 2009. Well if you as a hunter don't release any it doesn't make any difference if the season was open all year long.
It seems this state caters to the big game crowd, and I'm not one of them. Turkeys have taken over, and the only way I will hunt them is with a bow, if I do.
So, I'm kind of bitter in that this state has let this program go the way of most other eastern states. They say lack of habitat, bull, there is still plenty of cover, they have to address the predator situation and re-introduce wild pheasants from wild pheasant states. They are trying to do this in mid-state counties that supposidly have cover, but the area is not a pheasant area and never was. From what I read many years ago is that pheasants have to have soil that has limestone in it.
