In 1889, the first ring-necked pheasant were introduced to California. The plantings continued throughout of 1890s, but on limited basis. By 1900, the California Fish & Game stated the birds were too costly. In 1905, the Fish & Game established the Hayward Game Farm to raise the pheasants.

In early years, distribution of the pheasants was limited, maybe one-fifth of California counties. In October 1909, Fish & Game released a dozen of the pheasants in the Honey Lake Valley, about three miles of Janesville and an another dozen near Wendel. Subsequent plantings were sporadic. From 1909 to 1918 124 birds released in the Honey Lake Valley. In 1925 Fish & Game established a game farm to raise pheasant, and plantings were done a regular basis. From 1926 to 1946 3,767 pheasants were planted in Big and Honey Lake Valleys.

Some random notes. Occasionally, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors cancelled pheasant season in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1929, the Westwood Rod & Gun Club had 800 pheasants planted on various ranches in the Honey Lake Valley. Finally, in the 1930s, Fish & Game paid my grandfather, John Tanner to plant grain for the pheasants. This practice discontinued with establishment of the Honey Lake Wildlife Refuge in the early 1940s.

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