Pheasant with one spur

[Firstdog]

I was out hunting today, and while cleaning my bird, I noticed it only had one spur. How rare is this. I have never paid attention, but I'm pretty sure they are supposed to have two. It was a mature bird with a sharp spur about 5/8 of an inch.

[Benny]

All my pheasant hunting has been pen-raised birds that Oregon DFW throws out of a truck onto public land. Never seen any without both spurs.

[vzkennels]

I have seen hens with spurs & cocks with 2 spurs per leg.

[rkelly]

Shot one out in Western ND once with one leg. The other leg was half missing and totally healed over. Must of lost it as a chick and adapted. I felt a little bad about it, if I had realized he only had one leg when he got up I would of let him go. If he survived in the wild with one leg he deserves to live a long happy life IMO.

[BigShooter]

Are you sure it was a first year bird? Otherwise chances are pretty good the leg had been shortened by a hunter.

[rkelly]

No I don't think it was a first year bird if I recall. Good point could of lost it to a hunter. It was totally healed over though and covered with skin. He didn't come down dead either and landed in a stubble field and he could still definitely run.

[gotblika]

probably lost 1 spur in a fight.