ND
One thing about pheasants that mess some people up, is their body length including that long tail. Some inexperienced pheasant hunters will shoot behind the bird or shoot the tail feathers. If you shoot'm in the eyes, you will have a dead bird.
It has already been mentioned about the roosters running and putting as much distance between you and them as possible. This can start when you pull up to a field, hunters get out, stretch their legs, pee, joke and kid around, let the dogs out, they pee and while all this is happening the birds are either headed to the other end or already flushing out of it. Do your necessary stuff before you get to the field and get your blockers in place if you have them, then get right into the field. Now these cagey roosters sometimes will double back on you and you will never know they are there.
Another thing is at the end of a field. We stop about 30-40 yards from the end of the field and wait for a minute or two. Be prepared. If you have pushed some birds to the end, you may be getting some fast shooting. Don't be surprised if birds come up from behind you or right under your feet. Remember safety first. When a bird comes up behind me, I point my gun toward the sky, then turn, make the identification and if a legal bird and it is safe to shoot, I lower my gun on the target.
Most areas in Kansas allow lead shot. There are a few public areas that I hunt, where waterfowl are present and non-toxic shot is required. I have both steel and lead with me in the truck at all times. If non-toxic shot is required you cannot have any lead shot on your body when hunting that area.
Remember your hunter safety card, if your age is such that it is required in Kansas. I don't remember the date in that law, but I think it is sometime in1957. Check the reqs for sure.
http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/
Good luck,
Maynard Reece Byrd
Dodge City