The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 6 is releasing a total of 3,878 adult ring-necked pheasants at several locations in anticipation of this year’s hunting season. The pheasant hunting season dates are Oct. 1 through Feb. 28, with a daily bag limit of two cocks or hens. Youth pheasant hunting dates are Sept. 25 and 26, 2021. 

The following DEC Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are being stocked prior to the youth pheasant hunt weekend:

• Perch River WMA – Jefferson County; 
• Upper & Lower Lakes WMA – St. Lawrence County; and 
• Oriskany Flats WMA – Oneida County. 

The WMAs listed for the youth hunt, as well as the following areas, will be stocked with pheasants prior to the opening of hunting season on Oct. 1:

• Ashland WMA - Jefferson County;
• French Creek WMA – Jefferson County;
• Point Peninsula WMA – Jefferson County;
• Rome WMA – Oneida County;
• Verona Beach State Park – Oneida County. A self-issued permit is required to hunt and available at: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/102/hunting.aspx;
• Nowadaga Creek (New York State Canal property and private) – Herkimer County;
• Wilson Hill WMA – St. Lawrence County; and
• French Creek WMA – St. Lawrence County. 

Pheasants will not be stocked in Lewis County this fall. A private landowner in the town of Martinsburg, who generously opened his land to pheasant stocking and public hunting for many years, has retired from the program.  

In-season supplemental stockings will be taking place throughout the hunting season at all locations. The ring-necked pheasants were raised on the DEC Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca.  

Lewis County landowners who may be interested in having their property stocked with pheasants for hunting season should call DEC wildlife at (315) 785-2282. A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites is available on DEC’s website.?