Is this an old or young pheasant?

I'll agree that he isn't this year's bird. Probably 2nd year bird (different than a 2 year old). When they start to curve and are really sharp/slender at the tip, I start to wonder about the possibility of a 3rd year bird. Not a biologist, just my thought process.

My first bird today had smaller (shorter) spurs that were pointed,not dull. I assume that is a this year bird. But I sometimes wonder if those could be late hatch 2nd year birds. Still lean toward early this year bird.
 
How about when they have gone white on the end similar to a fingernail?
 

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carptom1 said:
How about when they have gone white on the end similar to a fingernail?
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I've always thought the white is the wearing off of the outer dark color. If the whole spur was white, then maybe more genetic variation. White tips is another thing where I start thinking they might be a 3rd year bird. More wear and tear.
 
Limitless said:
I've always thought the white is the wearing off of the outer dark color. If the whole spur was white, then maybe more genetic variation. White tips is another thing where I start thinking they might be a 3rd year bird. More wear and tear.
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His tail feathers weren’t spectacular but he was a large bird body wise. It looked as if he was losing pigmentation on the end of his spur. I didn’t think to measure them. He was in the far corner of a piece of public in SD. Cattails with water next to cut corn. It was worth the walk for sure but I always feel a little melancholy killing those old ones.
 
carptom1 said:
His tail feathers weren’t spectacular but he was a large bird body wise. It looked as if he was losing pigmentation on the end of his spur. I didn’t think to measure them. He was in the far corner of a piece of public in SD. Cattails with water next to cut corn. It was worth the walk for sure but I always feel a little melancholy killing those old ones.
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He finally met his match. It was his time.

I always get a kick out of the loners that hide far away from the rest of the birds. There are some smart cookies out there.
 
I'm going to guess 2nd year bird, with the possibility of being a 3rd year. Starting to curve at the tips. Lots of testosterone (or something else) in that boy. Did it take 2 dogs to bring him in? :)
 
I would say he is a year and a half, not born this last spring/summer. The extra spur is pretty unusual, at least around me. I have seen one rooster that had the extra one on one leg only. I have seen a few pics on the internet of them. The one I saw is in my group rooster mount now.
 
remy3424 said:
The extra spur is pretty unusual, at least around me.
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I haven't seen one in Minnesota nor South Dakota. Only minimal hunting in Iowa, and didn't see one there. North Dakota must spike the wild waters with extract of rooster pheasant pituitary glands.
 
Iowa DNR says spurs can only be used to identify a bird up to 1.5yo. I've shot yearlings where the beak broke with 1/2"+ spurs, and I've shot giant old rough beat up adults with little nubs. Its genetics IMO
 
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