Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1931-11-05
COMMENTS
Mr.. DUNN URGES PRESERVA-
OF RINGNECKED PLEAS
IN ROWAN COUNTY.

To the Editor:
During the past two or three years
a new game bird has made its appear
ance in Rowan county. This splendid
bird is the ringnecked pheasant (phas-
anius torq~uatus),a native of China.
Recent estimates indicate that there
are probably three hundred of this
species in the county. The cock is a
brilliantly plumaged fellow with a
green head and neck, a mahogany col
ored breast, blush, brown and gray
ON the back, with a narrow white ring
around the neck and possessing a sharp
pointed tail about IS inches long. He
may weigh as much as four pounds
and is full plumaged at six months of
age. The hen is much smaller, weigh
ing usually two to three pounds, with
modest brownish-gray plumage and
likewise having a sharp pointed tail.
The ringnecked pheasant is largely in
sectiverous, though it is also very fond
of weed seeds, especially ragweed seeds.
He will eat grain when nothing else
is available, but doesn't care for corn
unless he is very hungry. The ring
neck hen usually has from twelve to
fifteen young. In the wild state these
birds are very hardy, and if they are
given half a chance, may become fair
ly numerous. They were introduced
into North Dakota not many years
ago, and present indications have it
that there are several millions of them
in that state this year. In my opinion,
they can become plentiful in North
Carolina if they are properly protect
ed. The last legislature passed a local
law for Rowan county which places
a closed season on pheasants until No
vember, 1885, under the penalty of a
fine of not less than $500 and the
costs for the killing, sharing or cap
turing of any pheasant in Rowan
county. With only three hundred
birds in the county, it is quite likely
that persistent violations of this law
will lead to a speedy determination of
the local ringnecks. On the other
hand, if the law is observed, it is
equally likely that the pheasant will
become numerous within a few years.
For example: in the year 1888 forty
two Chinese ringnecks were liberated
and within three years 1t was estirnar-
ed that no less than 10000 pheasants
were in hat section. With the full
cooperation of our farmers and sports
men, during the next four years, work
ing harmony and protecting the 800
pioneer pheasants, and their descend
ants, in this county, we may soon
look forward to the day when the
ringneck will be plentiful among us,
and j~ustifying his existence and rails
Or d'etre by aiding in the destruction
Of our insect pests.
A goodly number of the pheasants
now in Rowan county were liberated
by the State Department of Game
Conservation. However, a number of
others were reared and freed by Mr..
Chandler of Barber, Mr.. Walter H.
Woodson, Jr., of Milford Hills and
others. These men reared the birds
at their own expense and donated them
t cause of local game restocking. The
rest of us, and particularly landown-
ers, can do our part by seeing that
they are protected and the law car
ried out.
The recent act of the legislature
also applies to the ruffed grouse, oft
en- enormously called the American
pheasant. About a dozen of these ma
jestic game birds exist in a section Of
Rowan county, although it was be-
lieved for a time that they were ex-
tinct in our section.