H
aving hunted 
pheasants since I was 
a teen in Northland, 
which offers some 
of the best pheasant 
habitats in the North 
Island where most 
birds are harvested, 
I have had a long love affair 
with this beautiful game bird.
According to Fish & Game 
New Zealand, the Ring-necked 
pheasant that is most commonly 
seen in today is a hybrid of 
three different breeds originally 
released in the 1800’s.  Black-
necks (Japanese green pheasant), 
Chinese ring-necks and Mongolian 
pheasants. It is likely that birds of 
this type are still being bred and 
released as game for shooting.
Pheasant hunting means getting 
out in the countryside to walk 
through scrubby farms, gullies, 
coastal dunes and pine blocks with 
your gundog and cover the ground 
to locate and flush birds.  This type 
of hunting appeals the most to me, 
you get to explore new farmland 
or forestry blocks and with their 
cunning nature and the explosive 
surprise of a pheasant breaking from 
cover, the hunting is always a thrill.
I typically hunt in Northland 
where the ring-necked pheasant is 
the most commonly encountered 
bird, and I have seen just a 
handful of black-necked or 
Japanese green pheasants over 
my 35+ years of hunting and 
missed the two birds I shot at!
Pheasant prefer dry habitats 
such as gullies with plenty of 
scrub for cover and insects, 
fresh clover, or berries for food.  
Forestry has become an important 
habitat to pheasants, and sandy 
dune country, or farmland with 
manuka or gorse are also favoured 
habitats and good places to 
start hunting with your dog.
Keen game bird hunters consider pheasant to be the 
king of game birds, renowned for their cunning nature, 
stunning plumage and speed when bursting from cover.
Feature
66  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE

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