Improving Habitats for Ring-Necked Pheasants in Missouri

Sep 30, 2025

By Linda Geist

Missouri landowners can take practical steps to improve habitat for ring-necked pheasants, whose populations have declined across the Midwest due to habitat loss and changing land use.

“Providing the right types of habitat for nesting, brood-rearing and winter cover is essential for pheasant survival and reproduction,” says Robert Pierce, University of Missouri Extension state wildlife and fisheries specialist.

A new MU Extension publication, developed in partnership with Missouri Pheasants and Quail Forever, outlines science-based strategies to support pheasant populations. Ecology and Management of Ring-Necked Pheasants in Missouri is available for free download.

“The sight of pheasants in grasslands and crop fields in northern Missouri is becoming less common,” says MU Extension horticulture specialist Todd Higgins. “The decline in the pheasant population is not just a Missouri problem. It is a problem across their range throughout the Midwest.”

Pheasants range in Missouri

Ring-necked pheasants range throughout at least 32 Missouri counties, mostly north of the Missouri River and near the Iowa border, Pierce says.

Source : missouri.edu

Video: Early Fall Colors | Scenic Ontario Road Trip!

All adventures must come to an end, but not without one more journey! Join The Wandering Shepherds as we say farewell to our cozy Calabogie cottage and take the scenic road trip home to Ewetopia Farms. Our first stop was a breathtaking hydroelectric generating station, framed by cliffs, rushing water, and brilliant fall leaves that seemed to have changed overnight. From there, we meandered along winding backroads through lakes and hills, soaking in the spectacular autumn scenery. This year, the colors seemed to arrive earlier than usual—perhaps due to the summer’s drought? Whatever the reason, it was an unforgettable display of Ontario’s fall beauty. Finally, our holiday drew to a close as we pulled back into Ewetopia Farms, ready to return to the sheep and our daily vlogs. But this trip reminded us how important it is to pause, explore, and appreciate the simple beauty around us.