Jason E. Andersen

Bonus fun fact: As something a little different, below is an excerpt from an article I wrote for the local newspapers. With all the snow recently, I’ve been getting questions about how the winter will affect pheasants and if people should feed pheasants or not. These are my answers to those questions and they are in some of the papers today. I might make it a reoccurring thing, we’ll see.

How hard will this winter be on pheasants?

Winters are tough on ring-necked pheasants, but you would be surprised how well they can survive, given they have the right habitat. Pheasants need dense stands of upright grasses or short trees and shrubs to use as cover during harsh Iowa winters. It’s this winter cover that’s key for pheasant survival. They huddle under it to block the wind so they can maintain their body temperature, much like you or I would if we were caught out in the blowing cold. The increased snowfall will certainly cause some mortality, but I’m optimistic. Last year’s roadside survey conducted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) showed the second highest count of pheasants in the last decade. These high numbers, combined with an increase in acres of habitat in our area, will hopefully carry the pheasant population through the winter.

Should I feed pheasants to help them through the winter?

Finding food under a blanket of snow is certainly a challenge for pheasants. However, the leading cause of pheasant mortality isn’t starvation, it’s exposure to the elements. This is why quality winter cover is so important. Pheasants can live off their winter fat reserves for up to two weeks or more and can range up to a mile to find food. Providing food for pheasants can help them get through the winter, but it won’t have as big of an impact as providing quality habitat. If you’re going to feed pheasants, I recommend using something with a high fat content like corn or sunflower seed.