Report Nr. 3261 Effects of Experimental Sichuan Pheasant Releases on Pheasant Abundance

The Wildlife Division initiated the Sichuan pheasant (Phasianus colchicus strauchi) introduction in 1985 as one response to a long-term pheasant decline. This study was initiated to overcome the limitations of early studies with the objective of measuring the short-term impacts of Sichuan releases on local pheasant abundance. Winter roadside observations suggested that pheasant populations in release areas were composed of approximately 45% combined Sichuan and hybrid male pheasants. Hunter harvested pheasants were approximately 27% Sichuan or hybrid. The difference in estimates between roadside observations and hunter harvested birds may reflect the timing of the surveys relative to releases. The results of this study failed to demonstrate increases in pheasant abundance attributable to Sichuan pheasant releases. The most plausible explanation for these results is that release area populations are constrained by the same limiting resources as ring-necked populations.