Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

First time in many years

Ohiosam

*Supporting Member*
11,708
191
Mahoning Co.
Since we finally got some rain I was out spot spraying roundup in the beans this evening. Something started moving in the beans and I figured it was a bunny. Nope it was a hen pheasant and at least 3 chicks. Chicks were really small and could only fly a few feet.

I probably hadn't seen a wild pheasant in 15 maybe 20 years. Maybe there's some hope. :smiley_coolpeace:
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I've been hearing the Bobwhite whistle this year...love that sound but it's driving my dogs crazy because that's how I whistle to them. Lol
 

Wmiller07

Member
1,132
30
I've heard the stories about the good old days of pheasant hunting in Ohio and I would love if some of that came back. I've done the released hunts but I know it's not the same.
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
It's exciting to see something like that! I remember putting at least 1 up every time we bunny hunted as kids.
Nice to hear Sam.
 
Last edited:
Very cool Sam! Must have a lot of good grasses around there for nesting!

I've been hearing the Bobwhite whistle this year...love that sound but it's driving my dogs crazy because that's how I whistle to them. Lol

My uncle who owned the farm we have used to talk about the quail and how plentiful they used to be. Would be cool to see some one day there.
 
When I was a teenager growing up in Portage county pheasants were abundant as were quail. I remember vividly taking my first cock bird about 50 yards from my parents backdoor. I have a photo around here somewhere of the last three quail I ever shot. They are on the hood of a 76 Ford F100 that I owned for only a couple of years. So they were shot around 76 or 77.

It would be great to see the pheasants and quail make a comeback. But, I think todays commercial farming will make that highly unlikely.
 

Buckmaster

Senior Member
14,362
191
Portage
My father got one in 1979 here in Portage County. The farmer told him he shot the last one in the County.

We haven't seen a wild one since. Once in a while we'll see a pen raised one around that someone released for the best however they mainly become Raptor food.
 

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,741
274
North Carolina
When I was a kid rabbit hunting Mahoning county we'd see them about every trip out into the field.... 77/78 they up and vanished...
 

Wmiller07

Member
1,132
30
I've heard that the pheasant population in the western part of Ohio is getting better. Is there any truth to this?
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
223
Ohio
I've heard that the pheasant population in the western part of Ohio is getting better. Is there any truth to this?
They do have some wild pheasants out there but not a crazy amount. Whether the numbers are increasing or not, I have no idea. I would think this past mild winter and dry spring/summer should have helped them though.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
They do have some wild pheasants out there but not a crazy amount. Whether the numbers are increasing or not, I have no idea. I would think this past mild winter and dry spring/summer should have helped them though.

The same is true for the predators though... And I e noticed a big increase in those. Feathered ones of the sky, feral cats, bobcat, fox, coyotes.
 

antiqucycle

Junior Member
506
36
East Ohio
The are were no coyotes around in 1977, at least in NE Ohio. Now we are overloaded with hawks and even bald eagles. I think owls are to blame too as a lot of pheasants that would be easy pickings when they roosted in low trees like apples.