Pheasants are the favorite upland bird of most Indiana small-game hunters. Photo by Mike Schoonveld.

Except for global warming, there's no environmental issue today receiving more attention from the scientific community than invasive and exotic species. In the U.S., an exotic species has been defined as any plant or animal that was not found in North America before discovery and settlement by Europeans. In other words, zebra mussels, starlings, English sparrows, purple loosestrife, garlic mustard and more than 200 other species of plants and animals in Indiana are here now, but weren't present in 1492.

I've often wondered why, with so many invasive species stowing away on ships or planes to invade North America that so few have proved to be welcome and valuable assets. There are not many people who wouldn't send all the zebra mussels in the Great Lakes and other waters back to Europe where they came from. Let's send all the African bees back to Africa and the Asian lady beetles back to China. There are no good carp, starlings or any of the other dozens of invasive species I could list.

In fact, of all the exotic species of which I'm aware, only one has become a welcome transplant to the areas it has colonized in the New World. And that exotic species is none other than the ring-necked pheasant.

Originally found only in Asia, ringnecks were introduced in Oregon in the 1880s and into almost every other state in the Union in the next few decades. In some areas, they pros pered; in other regions, they weren't so successful. Here, in Indiana, there are areas where (given enough habitat) ringnecks will exist in densities unrivaled anywhere in the country.

Regardless that these birds aren't native to Indiana and regardless that pheasant populations aren't spread evenly across the state, they are still the favorite and most sought-after game bird for most Indiana upland hunters. The statistics show it!

Anyone hunting non-migratory, feathered game in Indiana is required to purchase a Game Bird Habitat Stamp along with his or her normal hunting license. Specifically, this includes people hunting ring-necked pheasants, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse and wild turkeys. Sure, many people hunt both pheasants and quail, both grouse and turkeys or any other combination. But when pinned down as to which game bird is most important to individual habitat stamp buyers, pheasant hunters easily outnumber hunters primarily interested in hunting bobwhites, turkeys or grouse.

This popularity has developed because there are actually four different ways to hunt pheasants in our state. They all involve dogs, shotguns, brisk fall days and a healthy amount of effort. However, your demeanor, your budget and where you live are the overriding factors to determine which particular style will suit you best.

WILD BIRDS
Wild ringnecks exist primarily in northern Indiana. The soils that developed under prairie grasses or in wetland situations are where pheasants can prosper. A major part of several northwestern Indiana counties were prairie grasslands when settlers came to the state. In other areas of northern Indiana, vast shallow marshes existed and with ingenuity, work, manpower and machines, many of these marshes were drained and the wetlands were converted to agricultural crops.

Habitat found in these areas will produce pheasants. Unfortunately (at least for pheasants and ringneck hunters), prairie soils and drained wetland acres are some of the richest farmland in the world and finding extensive tracts of undisturbed habitat is tough these days.

The USDA's Conservation Reserve Program, and other habitat initiatives which offset lost farm income in trade for establishing areas of cover, has helped Indiana's wild pheasant population to a degree. Sadly, these programs will never produce enough habitat and wild pheasants to satisfy all of Indiana's hunters.

SHOOTING PRESERVES
This is where capitalism and the Hoosier entrepreneurial spirit steps to the plate. These days, there are dozens of licensed shooting preserves around the state. Many are listed at www.blackswingandclay.com, but there are others. Their premise is simple.