Gamebirds

Ringneck Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)

The ring-necked pheasant is a species of upland game bird native to Asia. Pheasants are by far most common game bird found at High Plains Game Ranch.

Many hunting strategies are successful for pheasant and both pointing dogs and flushing dogs are widely used. As many a pheasant hunter will attest, these birds are very crafty and successfully outsmart even the most experienced hunters and dogs on a regular basis. Pheasants love to run and will do so even in the slightest amount of cover. Every effort should be made to get to a downed bird as soon as possible, as it only takes a few seconds for a cripple to cross the nearest county line.

Chukar Partridge
(Alectoris chukar)

Chukars provide an outstanding challenge for the upland bird hunting enthusiast. These non-native birds were initially introduced in the United States before the turn of the century, but it was the mid-thirties before chukars found their niche in the arid portions of the western U.S.

These birds are around fifteen inches in length with a wingspan of seventeen inches. Male chukars will weigh up to one and a half pounds, the females weighing a pound or slightly more. Chukars are uniquely marked with a whitish neck, throat, and chin, which is encompassed by a band of black which runs through the eyes. The chest and breast are slate grey and the belly area is buff colored. The bird has gorgeous vertical barring, of black, white and brown on its sides.

Hungarian Partridge
(Perdix perdix)

Also known as the Gray Partridge, this European partridge is locally abundant on agricultural lands (especially those under irrigation) in the northern third of North America. In flight, the rusty tail is a good field mark. Larger than the Bobwhite, this partridge is much grayer, especially on the breast. Usually silent; the call is a fast repetition of a one tone whistle.

One of High Plains most exciting birds to hunt, the Hungarian Partridge is also known for outsmarting the best of bird dogs.

The Hungarian partridge can be hunted in the same manner as bobwhite, but watch out these little grey birds can cover large distances with their feet in no time at all.

Sharptail Grouse
(Tympanuchus Phasianellus)

Sharptails can be found in CRP fields, in edge cover (i.e. between prairie and crop fields), along creek beds and in woody thickets. In many areas, pheasant and sharptail habitat overlaps making bird identification a priority. For inexperienced hunters, a sharptail can be distinguished from a hen pheasant by the prominent Òchuk-chuk-chukÓ sound emitted by a flushing grouse.

Sharptails are well known for being an elusive bird that will flush at very long distances. For this reason, many hunters favor hunting the first couple of weeks of the season when birds are reluctant to fly due to heat, and a few immature birds may not yet be fully educated. Once brought down, cripples do not generally run.

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