RodNGun Pheasant Project

Pheasant Project

Funding for the 2017 Pheasant Project has been approved for the purchase of 182 pheasants for release this Fall. There will be an equal number of hens and roosters. Funding was provided partly by the Club and partly from private donations.

Since 1954 the Chippewa Rod and Gun Club has been raising, and releasing pheasants into the wild. The club gets 500 pheasants every year through the Day-Old Chick Program, which is sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources. It costs about $1.50 per bird to raise a pheasant. This cost is taken care of by the club and private donations.

The club built a new building for the pheasants for the 2000 project, where the birds spend the first 15 days of their life, under heat lamps. To survive, the chicks need a constant temperature of 100 degrees for the first two weeks, then the temperature is reduced to 85 degrees.

On day 15 the Pheasants are allowed into the runway pens, however they still come into the shelter at night. Inside the runway pen, which is buried at least eight inches deep to prevent the birds from burrowing out, the pheasants enjoy a field of soybeans, orchard grass, oats, and field corn.

Each year the pheasants are released at multiple sites with-in the county. Each bird is fitted with a band on its leg to help keep track of the number of these pheasants taken during the season.

Public Hunting Opportunities in Chippewa County

There are two areas open to the public that are stocked by the DNR for pheasant hunting. The Hallie Marsh map, and the Tom Lawin Wildlife Area are governed by the DNR pheasant hunting regulations. See the small game and turkey tab for the WI DNR Small Game Hunting Regulations for the specific rules for each site.

Pictures of past Pheasant Projects.