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Pheasant Release Sites

Pheasant Release Sites for 2011

Two pheasant hunters in the field bagging their harvest

Annually, about 30,000 adult pheasants are raised on the Richard E. Reynolds game farm in Ithaca and released just prior to and during the fall pheasant hunting season. Releases occur across the state on both state and private lands open to public hunting. By following the links in the box to your right you can find out where, in your area, we plan to release birds.

Youth Pheasant Hunt - DEC offers specially designated Youth Pheasant Hunts. Pheasant hunting was one of the first hunting experiences for many of today's adult hunters, and this two-day hunt will help maintain this traditional introduction to hunting.

The Department releases adult pheasants on specific sites for the Youth Pheasant Hunt weekends (consult the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide for the applicable dates in your area). Junior hunters can hunt these sites, which are designated below "YH", with a good chance of finding released birds. Sites designated "RS" are locations where birds will be released for the Regular Season.

Print or download a complete listing of Pheasant Release Sites (PDF) (136 kB) or review the information below by DEC Region and County.

Region 1 - Long Island

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
Stony Brook Office at 631-444-0310

Suffolk County

  • Brookhaven - Rocky Point State Natural Resources Management Area* (RS, YH)
  • Riverhead & Brookhaven - Otis Pike Preserve* (RS, YH)
  • Brookhaven - Eastport State Lands* (YH)

* A daily permit must be obtained from the Ridge Hunter Check Station.

Region 3 - Lower Hudson Valley

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
New Paltz Office at 845-256-3098

Dutchess County

  • Amenia - Wassaic Multiple Use Area (RS)
  • Milan - Lafayetteville Multiple Use Area (YH, RS)
  • Red Hook - Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

Orange County

  • New Windsor - Stewart State Forest (YH, RS)
  • Tuxedo - Sterling Forest State Park - Must obtain hunting permit from Sterling Forest Park Office. (RS)

Putnam County

  • Kent - Ninham Mountain Multiple Use Area (RS)
  • Patterson - Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • Patterson - Great Swamp WMA, access off Cornwall Hill Rd., park in designated areas only (6 car capacity) (YH, RS)

Sullivan County

  • Freemont - Crystal Lake State Forest (RS)
  • Mamakating - Bashakill Wildlife Management Area (RS)
  • Thompson - Wolf Brook Multiple Use Area (RS)

Ulster County

  • Hurley - Gill's Farm - Must obtain permission from landowner. (RS)
  • Rochester - Davis Farm - Must obtain written permission from landowner. (RS)
  • Rochester - Kelder Farm - Must obtain written permission from landowner. (RS)
  • Wawarsing - Ver Nooy Kill State Forest (Lundy Estate), access from Lundy Road off 209 (RS)

Region 4 - Capital District

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
- Schenectady Office at 518-357-2070 or
- Stamford Office at 607-652-7367

Albany County

  • Berne - Partridge Run WMA - See maps at all informational kiosks. (YH, RS)
  • Knox - Margaret Burke WMA - west side of Cty Rte 254. (YH, RS)
  • New Scotland - West side of Diamond Hill Rd. north of Clipp Rd. (RS)

Columbia County

  • Kinderhook - County Rte. 21 southeast of Dahlgren Rd. (RS)
  • New Lebanon - South side of Cemetery Rd., west of Royce Hill Rd. (RS)
  • New Lebanon - County Rte. 5A and Old Post Rd.- Ask permission (RS)
  • New Lebanon - South side of Rte. 20 east of Old Shaker Rd. Access with limited parking on farm road just east of Stewart's Shop (RS)

Delaware County

  • Colchester - Bear Spring Mtn. WMA - Trout Brook Rd. (YH, RS)
  • Delhi/Franklin - County Route 16 at the town line. NYCDEP Land - respect property and nearby private residences. (RS)
  • Franklin- Off Rt. 357 across from Merrickville Rd. on Town property. Must obtain permission to hunt surrounding private land. (RS)
  • Harpersfield - Peters Rd. northwest of Bruce Hill Rd. Park at designated parking sign. Two vehicles maximum. (RS)
  • Roxbury - Charcoal/Frank Todd Road. NYCDEP Land - respect property and nearby private residences. (RS)
  • Stamford - Tower Mountain Road. Free NYCDEP Access Permit Required (see off-site link in right-hand column or call 1-800-575-LAND). (RS)
  • Walton - Bear Spring Mtn. WMA - West Trout Brook Rd. (RS)

Greene County

  • Due to flooding and other logistical constraints there are currently no stocking sites in Greene County. If conditions improve birds may be released later during the regular season. Check back here for updates or call the DEC Region 4 wildlife office at 607-652-7367.

Montgomery County

  • Canajoharie - Seebers Lane - Ask permission (RS)
  • Canajoharie - South Buel Rd. Ask permission (RS)
  • Canajoharie - Dunckel Rd.
  • Canajoharie - Old Sharon Rd. between Mapletown and Tubbs Rd. (RS)
  • Canajoharie - North of Clinton Rd., east of 163 (RS)
  • Canajoharie - Maring Rd. near Rt. 89 - Ask permission (RS)
  • Canajoharie/Minden - Nestle Road - Ask permission (RS)
  • Palatine - McKinley Rd. near Oswegatchie - Ask permission (RS)

Otsego County

  • Middlefield - Co. Rt. 43 & 35 (RS)
  • Milford - Rt. 28 , South of Milford - Ask permission, must stay on farm road, do not drive on fields to avoid puddles and ruts (RS)

Rensselaer County

  • Nassau - North and south of Jefferson Hill Rd. at the intersection with Middle Rd. - Must ask permission by calling 518-766-4346 after 5 PM. (YH, RS)

Schoharie County

  • Broome - Franklinton Vlaie Wildlife Management Area. (RS)
  • Conesville - Bear Kill Rd. NYCDEP land near Brand Rd. and Karlau Rd. (RS)
  • Richmondville - Lape Road. (RS)
  • Richmondville - Beards Hollow Road. (RS)

Region 5 - Eastern Adirondacks/Lake Champlain

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
- Raybrook Office at 518-897-1291 or
- Warrensburg Office at 518-623-1240

Clinton County

  • Chazy - Lake Alice Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • Schuyler Falls - North of Brand Hollow Rd, west of Rt. 22B (RS)

Essex County

  • Westport - Near the junction of Lake Shore Rd & Clark Rd on state land (YH, RS)

Franklin County

  • Due to flooding in some areas and other logistical problems, there are no stocking sites in Franklin County.

Fulton County

  • Ephratah - South of Ephratah on Route 140 and Turn Hill Rd. (RS)

Saratoga County

  • Greenfield - Daketown State Forest (YH, RS)

Washington County

  • Greenwich - Carter's Pond Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • Hartford - Eldridge Lane (RS)
  • Jackson - Eldridge Swamp State Forest (YH, RS)

Region 6 - St. Lawrence Valley/Western Adirondacks

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
- Watertown Office at 315-785-2263 or
- Potsdam Office at 315-265-3090 or
- Utica Office at 315-793-2554

View, print, or download maps and other important information about Region 6 Pheasant Release Sites (PDF) (1.2 MB).

Herkimer County

  • Danube - Nowadaga Creek (canal) (RS)

Jefferson County

  • Brownville - Perch River Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • Cape Vincent - Ashland Wildlife Management Area (RS)
  • Clayton - French Creek Wildlife Management Area (RS)

Lewis County

  • Martinsburg - East Martinsburg Rd. (RS)

Oneida County

  • Rome - Rome Wildlife Management Area (RS)
  • Verona - Verona Beach State Park Co-op (RS)
  • Whitestown - Oriskany Flats Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

St. Lawrence County

  • Canton - Upper & Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • Louisville - Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area (RS)
  • Macomb - Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area (RS)

Region 7 - Central New York

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
- Cortland Office at 607-753-3095 ext 247

Broome County

  • Triangle - Whitney Point Multiple Use Area (YH, RS)

Cayuga/Tompkins Counties

  • Ledyard, Genoa, Lansing - Cayuga Tompkins Co-op Hunting Area (YH, RS)

Cayuga County

  • Conquest - N. Montezuma Wildlife Management Area along Savannah-Spring Lake Rd. (RS)

Chenango County

  • Smithville - Long Pond State Forest (YH, RS)

Madison County

  • Hamilton - South of the Village of Hamilton along Payne Brook to Middleport Rd. or County Rte. 77. (RS)
  • Lenox - Ditch Bank Road along Cowaselon Creek (RS)

Onondaga County

  • Lysander - Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

Oswego County

  • Richland - Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • West Monroe - Three-Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

Tioga County

  • Richford - Michigan Hill State Forest (YH, RS)

Region 8 - Rochester/Western Finger Lakes

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
- Avon Office at 585-226-5380
- Bath Office at 607-776-2165

Chemung County

  • Veteran - Bill Winkky Farm, Ridge Rd.; Permission required; Park in designated area; Limited to 2 vehicles - 4 hunters maximum (RS)
  • Veteran - Dick Winkky Farm, Veteran Hill Rd.; Permission required; Park in designated area; Limited to 2 vehicles - 4 hunters max (RS)
  • Veteran - Dick Winkky Farm, Dann Blvd.; Permission required; Park in designated area; Limited to 2 vehicles - 4 hunters maximum (RS)
  • Veteran - John Mann Farm, Smith Rd.; Permission required; House at NW corner of Middle and Smith Rds.; Park in designated area; Limited to 2 vehicles - 4 hunters maximum (RS)
  • Horseheads - Chemung Federation of Sportsmen property north of Wygant Rd.; Property located north of Wygant and East of railroad tracks; Park in area along railroad tracks. (RS)

Genesee, Niagara County

  • Alabama, Royalton - Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area; Closed to pheasant hunting on Tuesdays and Fridays (YH, RS)

Genesee County

  • Alabama - John White Wildlife Management Area (RS)
  • Darien - Darien Lake State Park (YH, RS)
  • Oakfield, Alabama - Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Area; Closed to pheasant hunting on Tuesdays and Fridays (RS)

Livingston County

  • Livonia - Hemlock-Canadice State Forest - North end of Hemlock Lake (YH, RS)
  • Springwater - Hemlock-Canadice State Forest - South end of Hemlock Lake (RS)

Please Note: There will be no stocking at Conesus Wildlife Management Area in Livingston County.

Monroe County

  • Greece - Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

Ontario, Yates Counties

  • Naples, Italy - High Tor Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

Seneca County

  • Fayette - Poorman Farm, Poorman Rd. off Rt. 414 (RS)

Steuben County

  • Erwin - McCarthy Road. (RS)
  • Tuscarora - Nichols Farm on Thompson Road (YH, RS)

Wayne County

  • Savannah - N. Montezuma Wildlife Management Area along Savannah-Spring Lake Rd. (YH, RS)
  • Wolcott/Huron - Lake Shore Marshes Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)

Region 9 - Western New York

For further information on release sites contact: - Bureau of Wildlife
- Buffalo Office at 716-851-7010 or
- Allegany Office at 716-372-0645

Allegany County

  • Birdsall - Keaney Swamp Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
  • New Hudson - Hanging Bog WMA along New Hudson Road (YH, RS)

Cattaraugus County

  • Conewango, Randolph - Conewango Swamp Wildlife Management Area - between Rte 241 and Conewango Creek. (YH, RS)
  • Farmersville - Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area - Special permit required to hunt opening day Oct. 15 (59 KB PDF); Contact NYSDEC, 270 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203, (716) 851-7010 (YH, RS)
  • Red House - Allegany State Park, Wolf Run Rd. & Upper Bay State Rd. (free permit necessary from Admin. Bldg.) (YH, RS)
  • South Valley - Allegheny Reservoir Wildlife Management Area - vicinity of Bone Run off Onoville Rd. (YH, RS)

Chautauqua County

  • Sherman - Alder Bottom Wildlife Management Area - off Idora Rd. and Rte 76. (YH, RS)

Erie County

  • Collins - Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area - South of Vail and Unger Road and Button Road. - Special permit required to hunt opening day Oct. 15 (59 KB PDF); Contact NYSDEC, 270 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203, (716) 851-7010 (YH, RS)
  • Brant - East of Mileblock Rd., south of Milestrip Rd. Must obtain permission from landowner. (RS)

Erie, Niagara Counties

  • Royalton, Newstead - Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area (RS)

Niagara County

Wyoming County

  • Middlebury - Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area & Sulphur Springs F.W.M.A. Coop - 5 miles north of Warsaw. (YH, RS)