What makes a "trophy" pheasant?

[nicemustang]

I'm relatively new to the upland hunting scene, and first year huting pheasant. Is this a "trophy" pheasant? We have limited out 3 weeks in a row doing the release site thing. Today, not as much luck. Later, we were hunting partridge and found this guy. This was a wild bird near drumheller. We actually found a nice spot with a couple of hens and another male. This is our by far biggest. My buddy said your are supposed to count the bars on the tail and over 30 is supposed to be good? This one had 33. What do you think, taxidermy?

[rae61]

Great looking bird.......... nice job in getting him in such a tough year. It's a big bird and it looks like his feathers are not messed up, if you want a mounted pheasant I think he is a good specimen.

[crawfy]

Very nice bird indeed, they are not measured by counting bars on their tails. Pheasants are measured by streching them out flat on a table and then measuring them from tip of beak to the tip of their tail. Usuall a trophy bird will measure 40 inches plus. Albertas winner for the trophy night usual start around 40 inches and will reach over 42 inches.

A 38 inch bird is a very nice bird i suspect that your bird in the pictures will be very close to that 40 inch mark.

Just looking at the bird it would be one that i would be taking to the taxidermist, nice colors, long tail, yep its a keeper.

[TheClash]

good looking bird, how are its spurs??

[blackpheasant]

Nice looking Rooster mustang, our crew counts bars, a 40 bar rooster is exceptional I have shot 4 in 40 years of pheasant hunting......great hoody by the way.

[Pointerman]

Great looking bird......ugly hoodie though...just joking.

[Coulee]

I have always gone by the standard that anything over thirty bars is a big bird. Every time I shot a pheasant in that category I either shot it's beak off or wrecked it in some other way. So if you want to mount this one I would say go ahead. You never know when you'll get another like it. Not to reveal my age, or as I prefer, experience, below thirty bars is a rooster, above thirty bars is a cock. Better get that bird to the taxidermy man.

[packhuntr]

36 inch is a good solid bird. 38 inch is an awesome rooster, (where my trophy standard starts), but you crack 40 and its a monster. Not many birds will do it, and they all have slammer bodies to go with slammer tail feathers. These 38 inch plus birds are like hunting whitetails. Theyve dealt with predators on a very high level. Selective harvest for these wild geriatric roosters and you will see just how cagey and smart these old ones are.

[nicemustang]

It measures just shy of 37". Off to the taxi then! Thanks guys. I'm pretty happy with it.

[Springer]

He will look great Mounted up. Nice Rooster and Nice dog!!!
Congrats.

[ishootbambi]

ive always thought 36 inches was where big starts. if B&C kept records, ive thought 40 inches or 40 bars would be about right. ive only ever taken 2 that size.

[bushwackin]

That's a huge cock!!! Congrats!

[Marlin07]

Originally Posted by bushwackin

that's a huge cock!!! Congrats!

lol

[BeerSlayer1]

33 bars is a great bird. Congrats, enjoy the mount.