rosscrazyelk, I agree with the other guys on predators and cover. But, there are additional ways to help the population too.
"Idaho for Wildlife" has a surogator program in Idaho that is proving very effective at raising hatched chicks to be wild birds. IDFG doubted the efectiveness so IFW raised a bunch of black pheasants with a surogator to prove the success, last fall black pheasants were showing up in hunter bag limits.
I am hoping "Washington for Wildlife" can implement a similar program here in WA. Perhaps you could try this in the palouse! If you are interested, I will get more specific details. I would like to try this in Stevens County next year.
http://www.idahoforwildlife.com/Pocatello%20pheasants.htmlSnake River Chapter Pheasant projects 2009:Bryan Spraque and Mark Otteson have been very busy this year. They have raised and released over 6,200 pheasants and 300 Chuckars!
They currently have 14 serrogaters and 5 more in the process of being built!
These birds were released at four weeks old.
Bryan made the following quote regarding this project:
"We had an incredible survival rate this year! Predator control, nesting & brooding habitat are absolutely vital to the success of these programs. During the egg stage of nesting and the first 4 weeks of life, these birds are very vulnerable. But with our sophisticated serogators systems, we have proven that we can increase the survival rate of these birds substantially! With progressvie and on-going education along with collaberation with our wonderful farmers, we can make pheasant hunting what it should be and What it used to be."
http://www.idahoforwildlife.com/Latah%20pheasants.htmlLatah Chapter Pheasant projects 2010:Jim Hagedorn, John Largent, Idaho Fish and Game personel, Adam and Tia Stagg and many other volunteers have been very busy this past Spring with birds! They recently purchased 2 new pheasant serrogaters and hundreds of young pheasants. Their goal is for each serrogater to produce 800 pheasants per year which will be turned out on public land with good habitat conditions. This is the first time this new pheasant raising technology has been attempted in Latah or the Clearwater so lets cross our fingers!