I've only really ever gone for pigeons with a catapult, but I know a few good ways of trapping pheasants that might be adapted.
One is to peg out some gill net at approximately the height of the bird's back and then scatter some corn or breadcrumbs under it, the birds have to raise their heads to swallow and they will get caught in the net.
The other way, my favourite, is to get a small amount of toffee and some bird seed. First make some little paper cones, then warm up the toffee in an old can on the fire. Coat the inside of each cone with a small amount of toffee and then pour in some seed. Make a few little holes and push the pointed ends of the cones into the ground so that the top is just above ground level, like a convenient feeding dish for your prey.
As the bird pecks at the seed it will get toffee in it's feathers eventually reaching the point where it's head is stuck in the cone. Now, birds aren't that bright, so, once the lights go out they assume it's night and go to sleep.
Hey presto...you come back and there are some docile birds sitting ready for the pot.
I come from a country where guns are illegal, all land is private and only rich people can afford to hunt, so we get quite good at poaching here.
