A loud explosion of colors and feathers resulted in a moment of shock and several seconds of indecision.

To ramp up your hunting-success rates, you have to learn where to look for pheasants.

"Rooster!" someone yelled.

Several shotguns pointed skyward and followed the large bird. All gunners shot either above or below it, to the right or to the left.

The pheasant sailed into a brush-covered draw a half-mile away.

Ringneck pheasants, or Phasianus colchicus, are wily, worthy game birds. They can make a group of seasoned hunters look foolish with their noisy flush and quick wingbeats that carry them to safety.

But pheasant hunters can give themselves a big advantage if they understand these birds and how they spend their day.

KNOW THEIR HABITS, INCREASE SUCCESS
Wild pheasants are creatures of habit, so it stands to reason that their movements can be predicted.

Of course, weather plays a big part.

Shortly after daylight, pheasants will fly or walk from roosting cover and head to morning feeding areas. They will feed for a couple of hours and then either move back to roosting cover or head for loafing cover -- often hedgerows, fence lines or the grassy edges of a field.

Pheasants will feed for an hour or so before dark, then head back to their roosting cover for the night. It's quite surprising how small an area this may be.

During times of extreme cold or a heavy snow, pheasants may hold tighter in dense cover. Even heavy dew can keep them on the ground.

After the weather warms, pheasants may stay out most of the day to feed. In areas of hunting pressure, the birds learn to stay in the dense cover and flush wild ahead of approaching hunters.

An old rule of thumb says that 90 percent of the fish are found in 10 percent of the water, and the same can be said for pheasants. To ramp up your hunting-success rates, you have to learn where to look for these birds.

Not all of the ideal places will be found in your hunting area, but looking for the best cover will give you a good start. (Continued)

In wet areas, pheasants love to hide in cattail marshes near croplands. Corn rates high on their list, as do soybeans, wheat, milo and other small-grain plants.

Other areas popular with ringnecks are old abandoned farmsteads, grassy fringe areas, grassy waterways, CRP land, brushy fence lines, fences in general, irrigation ditches, and weedy areas that provide cover.

Many an old rooster will take his cover in the high grass, weeds, and brush surrounding a frozen stock pond or water tank. These bank areas help break the wind and many times, act as places where snow won't drift. Walking the edges will create a flush and put a pheasant in your bag.

Just be careful that you don't find thin ice while retrieving your bird. The same goes for your dog.

However, understanding these colorful birds is only part of your formula for success. Like deer hunting, pre-hunt preparation is crucial.

Do your own scouting. Start by calling the state fish and game department. Check with their upland biologist as to where and when to hunt. Drive the area you plan to hunt. Look for the proper habitat and birds in the fields or along rights of way.