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Breeding Range. Common in the southern portion of the Southern Drift Plain (Dickey and Sargent Counties, southern LaMoure County, southern Ransom County, and southwestern Richland County); locally common on the Little Missouri Slope, Missouri Slope, Coteau Slope, and Northwestern Drift Plain (most numerous in valleys and ravines of Missouri River drainage system, and on the J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge); generally uncommon though of regular occurrence elsewhere in the state, except in the northeastern corner (Walsh, Pembina, and Cavalier Counties) where it is quite scarce. During the period 1970-1973, a major, possibly temporary, reduction in population occurred especially in the prime pheasant area located in the southern portion of the Southern Drift Plain.

Breeding Habitat. The Ring-necked Pheasant is essentially a bird of agricultural croplands and adjoining edge habitats including weedy field margins, wood margins, shelterbelts, densely vegetated dry sloughs, and retired croplands. Preferred croplands include fields of corn, wheat, barley, and hayfields of alfalfa and sweetclover. According to Miller (1955), several environmental factors contributed to the peak populations reached during the early 1940's. The drought and economic depression of the middle 1930's resulted in much idle land. A return to normal rainfall in the late 1930's resulted in an abundance of sweetclover and other types of favorable food and cover. At the same time additional foods were produced as farming operations were gradually restored.

Nesting. Breeding season: Late April to mid-September; peak, mid-May to mid-August. Extreme dates of dependent young (159 broods): May 19 [1942] in Bottineau County (L. H. Dundas) to September 2 [1960] in Stutsman County (RES). Latest egg date: July 29 [1942] in Bottineau County (L. H. Dundas).

The habitat distribution of 630 nests found on 4 study areas by North Dakota Game and Fish Department personnel is indicated as follows:

1942--Sargent County, 137 nests (B. Hjelle).--27 percent along roadsides; 23 percent in alfalfa fields; 21 percent in yards, sloughs, and wasteland; 9 percent in haylands; 8 percent in clover fields; 4 percent in idle land; 3 percent in croplands; 3 percent in pasture; 1 percent in summer fallow; and 1 percent in crested wheatgrass fields.
1942--Bottineau County, 177 nests (L. H. Dundas).--90 percent of nests found in sweetclover, roadsides, and heavy grass that made up one-third of the area.
1954-1955--Dickey County, 89 nests (C. R. Grondahl).--28 percent in alfalfa fields; 21 percent in shelterbelts; 16 percent in fence rows and field borders; 15 percent in pastures and lots; 10 percent in small-grain fields; 8 percent in road ditches; and 2 percent in gravel pits.
1955--Bowman County, 227 nests (R. J. Fisher).--41 percent in fence rows and ditches; 18 percent in hayfields; 11 percent in grain fields; 11 percent in idle land; 8 percent on native prairie; 8 percent in grain stubble; and 3 percent in shelterbelts.

Indicated clutch size: 3 nests found during 1966-70 on the Woodworth Field Station of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Stutsman County contained 10, 11, and 12 eggs (L. M. Kirsch).