Black Pheasant?

[270Flat]

I was told by a Park Ranger that they have been releasing black ringneck pheasants around some of the release sites around the Snake River. I don't hunt release sites. But I am curious if anybody else has seen or heard or knocked one down. Apparently these birds are hardier... Any thoughts?

[BOWHUNTER45]

I seen a couple last year over around Grand Coulee !

[Birdguy]

They are called melanistic ringnecks and can look from dark blue or green to black. I raised some the first year I got into pheasants. They are certainly pretty, I do not know that they are hardier? If they truly were, I suspect there would be a lot more around as they are released every year on both sides of the state  .

I believe BEGINNER posted several pictures of them around his place this last summer on here somewhere.

[adamR]

I saw one this year while deer hunting in the LT Murray, wasn't sure what it was at first had to go find it and look alittle closer

[BIGINNER]

I've gotten about 3 or 4 of them this year.  and about the same amount that were mixed,  (half black and half regular color)

[Quackwhacker]

Do you have any pics?

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[boneaddict]

I saw one this year while deer hunting in the LT Murray, wasn't sure what it was at first had to go find it and look alittle closer

There are some REALLY nice ones in the LT.    They are beyond the "normal" melanistic.

[carpsniperg2]

We use to raise the blacks right along side out normal ring necks. We raised thousands of birds over the years. The yote population and hawk and owl populations are to high for me to be throwing money away anymore.

I have tried 2 years to shoot a blue in new zealand Could not find one for the life of me with a shotgun in my hand. Every time I went out with my bow they were all over the place. Funny how that works

[boneaddict]

I was breeding them for some time.   I had a breeding pair escape in 2007.   A couple of his babes have been showing up since.

[boneaddict]

I assume this is one of his babes....

[carpsniperg2]

He sure is beautiful.

[Jingles]

Looks good hope they taste as good as they look

[boneaddict]

THis is the pair that escaped.   I had them down to almost completely melanistic blue.  Even the hens were black.....most of the ones they release are brown.

[carpsniperg2]

That is cool, you must have had the strains traced down well. I have not seen a hen so black before. Seen them from the breeders we bought from but most were more dark brown, mudish color.

[steen]

They are very beautiful but I think they would have a hard time hiding with all that color.