The difference is that pheasants are bred for sport. this means that you dont shoot them out of season because if they became a pest then the breeding would stop! Rabbits are vermin and need to be controlled all year round. The only reason people say rabbiting 'season' is beacause its alot harder to ferret in the summer because of undergrowth etc. do a bit of reading and lay off the pheasants because for one, someone has taken alot of time rearing them and for two they should be shot when at correct age with correct equiptment. You live and learn