You're the one that said you took 10 pheasants:
".....It just seems like the possession limits are pretty small, to be considered reasonable. We have a possession limit of 4 pheasants. Between my son and I, we have taken 10 pheasants this fall, never exceeding the daily limit of 2.
Then you said "......I can see a need for more than 4 pheasants......"
Did I miss something?
You said you violated the law and then justified that violation by saying you could see a need.
"Seeing a need" isn't much of a legal defense.