
Did You Know This Common Montana Bird Is Actually Invasive?
Tomorrow marks the beginning of another popular hunting season here in Montana. Fall pheasant season has arrived. Outdoorsmen and their loyal dogs are going to be pounding the brush tomorrow in search of what I lovingly call a "ditch parrot."
Did you know that pheasant are actually an invasive species from CHINA?
Pheasants, specifically the ring-necked pheasant, are considered invasive in North America because they are not native to the continent. They were introduced from Asia in the late 18th century to provide game birds for hunting.
According to Audobon.org
The first attempts to introduce Ring-necks into the wild on this continent go back to the 1730s, when a few were released by the governors of New York and New Hampshire. Those early efforts didn’t work out, but their failure didn’t stop others from trying. Even George Washington released pheasants—apparently multiple species of pheasants—at his estate at Mount Vernon.
Since their introduction, pheasants have thrived in the non-native environment. Especially around areas with agriculture. In fact, the state bird of South Dakota is the pheasant.
Montana's pheasant season runs from October 12th through New Year's Day 2025.
According to the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks regulations for Upland Game Birds
- Pheasants may be taken with a shotgun not larger than a 10 gauge; or a long, recurve, or compound bow and arrow. All other means of taking are prohibited.
- Bag Limit: 3 cock pheasants daily. Possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
All hunters must purchase these before hitting the field in search of pheasant.
- Base Hunting License 18-61 years $10- Ages 12-17 $4 - 62+ $8 Ages
- Prerequisite Upland Game Bird $10 - Ages 18 - 61, $7.50 Ages 18 and over $3.75 Ages 12-17*, Senior (62+)
Good luck chasing those delicious Chinese ditch parrots this season.
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Gallery Credit: Ashley Warren
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