Raimey,
Interesting numbers. I can speak to the Illinois segment. There is precious little public land or access to private land here. The state runs a successful pheasant program. Hunters pay $25 each (it was $15) at selected state parks and conservation areas. The state releases 2 birds per hunter. You are allowed to shoot birds of either sex. The birds are bred by the state.
While this is certainly not wild. It does give those hunters with desire, but not necessarily the resources to spend time in the field. Often these are hunters who do not own a bird dog. Many are young, starting a family with blue collar jobs. So for them the program is a good fit. Still others belong to hunt clubs.
It is considered by the IDNR and hunters to be very successful. A couple of years ago, the then governor, wanted to end the program. Through a statewide series of public meetings that bill was voted down as legislators were education by the hunting public.
Over all, the number of pheasant hunters has declined in Illinois since the mid 90's. At this point there are more duck hunters than upland hunters in the state. As some have noted, Illinois like other states has become a deer and turkey state. The biggest problem for pheasnt here is habitat loss.
http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildlifeResources/surveyW/AG/PHSTATUS2004.pdfHistorical harvest data for Illinois
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/programs/Hunting/Iphar/08PheasantQuailWoodcockGraph.pdfHere is good article about pheasant in Illinois.
http://www.illinoisgameandfish.com/hunting/pheasant-hunting/il_aa111604a/For very interesting stats about hunting and fishing take a look at the government reports by state:
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/fishing.htmlPete
