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Over the four-year period 1948-51 a total of 3485 pen-reared pheasants were banded and liberated in the North Island. They varied in age between 3 and 20 months, but 40 per cent. of the birds were three months old when released. The average number of birds per liberation was six.

A total of 117 band returns were received up to 1 June 1952, representing 3.4 per cent. of the total release. It is pointed out that the recovery of banded ducks in New Zealand is 23 per cent., or about seven times higher, which difference undoubtedly mainly is due to the much higher survival rate of the wild-bred (trapped and released) ducks. The band returns seem to give an indication of the suitability of various districts for pheasant liberation. Of the birds reported upon, 78.6 per cent, were killed by shooters. More than half of these birds recorded were killed during the first two weekends of the open season.

Eighty-five per cent. of the birds recovered were killed within the first year after release; 13 per cent. in the second year; and 2 per cent. in the third year.

Distances travelled by 117 pen-reared pheasants between the points of liberation and recovery were as follow: 50.8 per cent. recovered within a mile of liberation point: 26.4 per cent. from 1 to 5 miles; 20.6 per cent. at distances from 5-20 miles; and 3.2 per cent. over 20 miles.