Fall-to-Winter and Winter Movements of Pheasants in lowa

Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) movements were studied in south-central Hamilton County, Iowa, during the fall and winter of 1966-67. Fall-to-winter movements of 23 pheasants averaged 0.66 mile. The greatest movement recorded was 2.45 miles. There was no evidence of oriented movement either in direction or to specific wintering areas. The mean winter movement of 43 pheasants was 0.20 mile (based on 149 observations). There was no obvious difference in winter movement of flocks associated with distinct ' wintering areas. Few pheasants moved between wintering areas after winter flocks were formed. Ring-necked pheasants (Pha~ianus coZchicus) were captured and marked for field identification in south-central Hamilton County, Iowa, during the fall and winter of 1966-6 7. Objectives were to determine distances moved by pheasants from the summer and fall range to winter concentration areas and to supplement information on pheasant mobility during winter. Field studies began in early August, 1966, and were terminated the following late April. Intensive investigations were conducted from December 1, 1966, through March 31, 1967. This report on movements covers part of a more inclusive study that covered pheasant production and populations in central Iowa (Egbert, 1968).