Pheasants are, by nature woodland edge dwellers. They are also by nature wanderers, especially in the artificial numbers we release them into a wood. They think the grass is always greener and want their own piece of paradise. As young birds, they will group together, but those same birds a month or two later will be wanting their own space. Often a cock will monopolise a feeder, chasing off others.
Given this, position feeders at the edges of your woods and in any clearings. That way, pheasants will have good vision whilst feeding and still have cover. Feeders at the edges also make it easier to fill them. Get some aniseed oil from your local tie dye and sandal wearer's supplier and dilute it one part in five with corn oil (Mazola from the supermarket will do nicely) and mix that in with the wheat. If there are some clearings in the wood, as said above, make something the birds will enjoy scratching and pecking about in. At it's simplest, this could just be some straw strewn about with wheat spread about on it.
Dogging in is indeed very helpful. Fine weather, which seems to be extending into the winter months often these days where natural food is plentiful means the little darlings aren't so reliant on your feeding regime, although a nice cold snap may well see them returning. Unfortunately commitments often mean dogging in is only sporadic, but you don't necessarily need a dog. Walking the boundaries yourself can have nearly as good an effect, so don't let those without dogs escape the chores! Tell them to take the kids and let them run riot on the boundaries!
As for feeding at the boundaries of the shoot, as a rule, don't. But if a fair few have already made the great escape at a particular place, there's an argument for it to entice them back.
