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For Release: Tuesday, September 16, 2008

DEC Announces Release of Pheasants for 2008 Hunting Season

Pheasant Raising Programs Bolster Hunting Opportunities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis today announced that approximately 25,000 adult pheasants will be released on lands open to public hunting for this fall's pheasant hunting season. The pheasant hunting season begins on Oct. 1, 2008, in northern and eastern portions of New York; Oct. 18, 2008, in central and western portions; and Nov. 1, 2008, on Long Island.

For the second year, junior hunters (12-15 years old) will have the opportunity to hunt pheasants the weekend prior to the regular pheasant hunting season. In northern and eastern New York, where the season opens Oct. 1, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Sept. 27-28. In western New York, where the season opens Oct. 18, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Oct. 11-12.

Pheasants will be released at a number of select sites across the state to provide ample youth hunting opportunities. Please review the attached list to find a location or contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office for more information. Hunters are reminded that all current pheasant rules and regulations remain in effect during the youth hunt.

"Youth pheasant hunt weekends provide our junior hunters with the opportunity to go afield during less-crowded conditions and under the supervision of an experienced hunter," said Commissioner Grannis. "DEC's pheasant programs enhance hunting opportunities across the state, and we are looking forward to another great year of pheasant hunting for youth and all sportsmen and sportswomen. And as always, pheasant hunters are strongly encouraged to review hunting regulations and safety guidelines before any hunting trip to ensure a safe and successful season."

Pheasants are raised at DEC's Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca, NY. The majority of the birds will be released on state wildlife management areas and cooperative hunting areas prior to and during the fall hunting season. All release sites for pheasants provided by state-funded programs are open to public hunting. A list of statewide adult pheasant release sites and sites receiving birds for the youth pheasant hunt weekends can be found by visiting the Department's website .

Despite long-term changes in habitat conditions that favor forest birds such as wild turkey and ruffed grouse, pheasant hunting remains one of the most popular forms of small game hunting in New York. Approximately 50,000 people go afield to hunt pheasants every year. DEC's pheasant propagation and release program helps sustain this activity since wild pheasant populations have declined dramatically with the loss of active agricultural lands.

Two popular cooperative pheasant rearing and release programs, the Day-old Pheasant Chick Program and the Young Pheasant Release Program, provide additional opportunities for pheasant hunters. Birds from these programs are released before the season opens and disperse widely, presenting a greater challenge for experienced hunters. Anyone interested in raising and releasing pheasants to expand next year's hunting opportunities should contact the Reynolds Game Farm at (607) 273-2768.

The Day-old Pheasant Chick Program, developed in the early 1900s, provides day-old pheasant chicks to cooperating 4-H groups and sportsmen and sportswomen organizations. The chicks are distributed to program participants in May and June, and cooperators incur all costs associated with rearing the birds, including feed, water, utilities and facility construction. This year, nearly 60,000 pheasant chicks were distributed statewide as part of this program.

The Young Pheasant Release Program was developed in 1992 with assistance from organized hunters. In this program, seven- to 10-week-old pheasants are distributed to cooperating groups and landowners for release at pre-approved sites from June through August. The cooperators provide a release pen and make food and water available for two weeks following the release of the pheasants, allowing the birds to become acclimated to their new surroundings. Approximately 15,000 young pheasants were released on more than 350 sites this year. A list of these sites is available from DEC regional wildlife offices.

Hunters who plan to use private lands should ask permission from the landowner. In addition, hunters are also encouraged to hunt with a trained bird dog to improve their chances of finding and locating downed game. For the enjoyment of everyone, please do not disturb pheasants released prior to the youth pheasant hunt weekends or the opening of the regular season. Training dogs and flushing pheasants at these release sites moves the birds off these sites and negatively impacts hunting opportunities.

Boundaries for pheasant hunting zones conform to Wildlife Management Units used for DEC's management of other upland wildlife. Wildlife Management Unit boundary descriptions can be found on DEC,s website. In addition to knowing these unit boundary descriptions, hunters should review the 2008-2009 New York Hunting & Trapping guide for complete regulations and other important information before going afield.

The following is a list of sites stocked with DEC Pheasants for Youth Hunting Weekends:

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