Very Brief History of Pheasants in America.Pheasants are not indigent they were first introduced into North America from Asia in 1733. New York was the first state in which pheasants were released, and later in 1790, they were soon introduced to New Jersey, New Hampshire and surrounding areas. However, it wasn’t until 1881 when thirty ring neck pheasants were shipped to Judge Ment Daye that pheasants really got their start in the United States. The good Judge Daye released the twenty-six pheasants that survived the journey from China, on his family ranch in Oregon. Since then, pheasants have been raised and released by landowners, private clubs and government agencies throughout this great country. It was nine years later, 1890, the Midwest had its first successful liberation of a pair of pheasants, near Macomb, Illinois. This pair of pheasants, a hen and rooster, mated and raised a clutch of chicks that were spotted later that year; this was 8 years before South Dakota released any pheasants. Illinois was the first state in the nation to open a state-operated game farm in 1904. Eggs and chicks were distributed to landowners across the state hoping the population would thrive and spread thought the Midwest. Currently 300,000+ pheasants are liberated each year in Illinois and Wisconsin, where many of their descendants still remain.