Nearly two centuries ago, the ring-necked pheasant came to the United States from China as a domestic import. Its first successful wild introduction was in 1881 on the West Coast.

This magnificent bird began its rise to stardom in southern New England in the early 1900s, when a few birds were released for hunters. Since then, the bird has become the premier upland game bird in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Pheasants do not survive in sufficient numbers to maintain a natural population, so wildlife agencies in all three states purchase adult birds from breeding farms. They release these birds periodically throughout the season into selected areas, allowing hunters to enjoy pheasant hunting well into the fall and winter.

RHODE ISLAND
For a small state, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management does an admirable job of keeping pheasant hunting alive. Each year between mid-October and mid-January, the department releases about 5,000 pheasants. According to department reports, most of the birds are released before Thanksgiving. Hunters get a second shot at them in early January, when the department releases additional birds.

The following four Rhode Island public-hunting areas are highly recommended for pheasant hunting this fall:

Buck Hill WMA
Pheasant hunters will enjoy this 1,390-acre hunting area in the northwest corner of the state. Here, much of the land consists of small rolling hills, with a mixture of open fields and mature forests. Avid pheasant hunters will find many birds along the forest-field edges near Croff Farm Brook. As the season progresses and hunting pressure mounts, concentrate on the small marshy areas scattered through the property. Many bird hunters bypass these productive wetlands in favor of dry ground.

Access to Buck Hill WMA is off Route 100. From Providence, take Route 44 westward towards Connecticut. In Chepachet, take Route 100 north for about eight miles to Buck Hill Road. Head west on Buck Hill Road for about two miles to the parking area. Another access point is adjacent to Wallum Lake off Route 100 near the Massachusetts state line.

Sapowet Marsh WMA
Diagonally across the state in Tiverton, pheasant hunters can chase their quarry in the 192-acre Sapowet Marsh WMA. The topography, as the area's name implies, is wet and marshy, ideal habitat for pheasant. Another unique aspect of this hunting area is its close proximity to major population centers and the Sakonnet River. Hunters visiting or working on Block Island or the nearby city of Fall River, Mass., can easily squeeze in a half-day pheasant hunt. Sunday hunting is prohibited in this area.

Access to Sapowet Marsh WMA is off Route 77. From Fall River, take Route 24 south toward Block Island. Take Exit 5 in Tiverton and travel south on Route 77 for about six miles to the four corners. Turn west on Neck Road, which leads into the wildlife management area.

Eight Rod Farm WMA
Also in Tiverton, Eight Rod Farm WMA is a former farm with a nice mixture of old fields and brushland. It's not important to visit Eight Rod Farm only on stocking days, since the birds exit and re-enter the property routinely throughout the season.

In contrast to Sapowet Marsh, Eight Rod Farm is relatively flat and dry, but several small ponds and wetlands dot the stocked part of the property to hold pheasants. As on Sapowet, hunting on Sundays is prohibited.