For Release: Friday, September 11, 2009
DEC Announces Release of Pheasants for 2009 Hunting Season
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 the fall pheasant hunting season.
The regular pheasant season will begin Oct. 1 in northern and eastern portions of the state, Oct. 17 in central and western portions, and Nov. 1 on Long Island. Boundaries for pheasant hunting zones conform to state Wildlife Management Units (WMU). In addition to knowing these boundaries, hunters should review the 2009-2010 New York Hunting & Trapping guide for complete regulations and other important information before going afield.
Junior Hunter Weekend
For the third consecutive year, junior hunters (12-15 years old) have the opportunity to hunt pheasants the weekend prior to the regular pheasant hunting season in most areas. In northern and eastern New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Sept. 26-27. In western New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Oct. 10-11. There is no youth hunting weekend on Long Island. All current pheasant rules and regulations remain in effect during the youth hunt. Pheasants will be released on a number of select sites across the state to provide ample youth hunting opportunities.
Pheasant Release Sites
Raised at DEC's Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca, pheasants will be released primarily on wildlife management areas and cooperative hunting areas around the state prior to and during the fall hunting season. All release sites for pheasants provided by state-funded programs are open to public hunting. Locations where birds will be released for the youth hunt are noted with a "YH" on that page.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.
Pheasant Rearing and Release Programs
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 provides day-old pheasant chicks to cooperating 4-H groups and sportsmen and sportswomen. This year, nearly 54,000 pheasant chicks were distributed statewide in May and June 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. Approximately 14,000 young pheasants were released on more than 340 sites this year. A list of these sites is available from DEC regional wildlife offices.
