The DNR's chief pheasant biologist John Cole said these three new state pheasant-hunting areas will be managed to “optimize natural habitat to foster an environment that will attract and hold wild ringnecks. We don't plan on releasing pen-reared birds on these sites."

Cole noted, “We are sensitive to Illinois' long tradition of hunting wild pheasants and realize changing times is making this pursuit more difficult for the average upland hunter. The Milks Grove area may prove to be the template for IDNR pheasant management practices in the future."

The DNR raises and releases birds for 14 sites that are part of an agency-controlled pheasant hunting program at fish and wildlife areas across the state. Hunting at these areas is by permit only.

Last season, permits for resident hunters cost $15 a day, but, pending approval by the General Assembly, the price may jump to $25 a day, which is still a bargain for Illinois hunters.

Raising quality pheasants for hunting is expensive. The average cost is $9 to $13 per bird. Like Illinois' catchable trout program, the Controlled Pheasant Hunting Program is essentially a put-and-take operation.

Pen-reared birds don't possess many of the survival skills found in native pheasants. Studies indicate that the overwinter mortality of these ringnecks is more than 95 percent.

Many of these birds fall victim to natural predators or disease before gun-toting hunters can experience their thrill. Last year, 63,391 pheasants were released on 14 state-managed properties in this program. Surveys indicate hunters harvested 36,128 of these birds.

The Des Plaines SFWA and Eldon Hazlet SRA saw both the highest release and highest harvest totals. Hunters at Des Plaines shot 9,561 birds out of 17,108 released, while those walking fields at the Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area took home 5,334 pheasants out of the 8,169 released.

“Several factors are considered in how many birds we release per site," Cole said. “Available acreage and number of permit requests both drive our stocking efforts."

The smallest harvest was just three pheasants at the Edward R. Madigan SFWA out of 60 birds released, but DNR statistics indicate only four hunter trips were made to the area.