The area that consistantly has pheasants in large numbers is SW ND. Wherever you find pheasants in good numbers you are going to find posted land and fee hunting in ND, even in eastern ND. There are still farmers that will just let you hunt, but they are getting fewer every year. There is a lot more public land in eastern ND, but less pheasants. There is almost no public land in the west, but way more pheasants.