Pheasant hunting season in Western New York will open on Saturday, Oct. 17, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today.  DEC will release approximately 4,600 adult ring-necked pheasants on Western New York lands open to public hunting for this fall’s pheasant hunting season. Stocked pheasants will be provided by DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca. A complete list of pheasant release sites statewide is available on DEC’s website.

The Day-old Pheasant Chick Program provides additional pheasant hunting opportunities through a partnership between DEC, hunters, 4-H youth, and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants.  Birds from this program are released before the season opens and disperse widely, presenting a greater challenge for experienced hunters. 

Hunters are reminded to ask permission from private landowners before hunting on their lands. Many of these release sites are available for hunting because of the cooperation of private landowners. Good landowner/hunter relations are critical to ensure that these areas remain open to hunting in future years.   

To ensure the safety of hunters and DEC staff during pheasant stocking, pheasant hunting will not be allowed on Fridays at Carlton Hill Multiple Use Area during October and November. Hunters are encouraged to review the 2020-2021 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before going afield, and to be sure of their targets and beyond when hunting. The guide identifies boundary restrictions and other important information, and is available online. "Rooster only" and "rooster and hen" boundary descriptions are on page 40 of the guide.

A special permit is required for hunting small game during the opening day of pheasant season on Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area in the town of Collins (Erie County), and Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area in the town of Farmersville (Cattaraugus County). Hunters interested in entering the DEC permit lottery for these Multiple Use Areas should mail one standard-size postcard to: 

NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife
270 Michigan Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14203

Postcards must include the hunter’s name, address, telephone number, 2020-21 license back tag number, preferred time of hunt (sunrise to noon or 1 p.m. to sunset), and the management area desired in order of preference. All entries must be received by Sept 25. There is no fee for the permit, and hunters awarded permits will be able to name one additional hunter on their permit. Ten permits will be issued per time block on each management area. Small game hunting on all other days remains sunrise to sunset with no permit required. 

Hunters should also note that dogs are not allowed within the designated area on the Multiple Use Areas for any purpose during the 48-hour period immediately preceding opening day of the fall pheasant season as posted on Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area and Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area. 

Hunting throughout the pheasant season is allowed at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora state parks in Niagara County.  However, permits are required on Oct. 17, Oct. 24, and Oct. 31 for Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora state parks. There will be two separate hunts each day that a permit is required: the first hunt will be from sunrise until 12:30 p.m.; the second hunt will be from 12:30 p.m. until sunset.

Hunters interested in entering the permit lottery at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora state parks should mail a separate, standard-size file card for each date and park they would like to hunt. Only one permit will be issued to each hunter per day. Cards may be put into an envelope for each respective park and mailed together to the appropriate address below:

Information on the file card should include the hunter’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, hunting license back tag number, hunt date, a.m. hunt or p.m. hunt, and desired park location. Entries will be computerized to avoid duplications. All lottery entries must be received by NOON on Friday, Sept 25. Please call the respective park managers at the numbers provided with questions regarding the permit lottery. Note: there will be no pheasant hunting at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora state parks on release days (Oct. 23 and 30). There is no fee for the permit and hunters awarded permits will have the option of naming one additional hunter on their permit.

Hunters wishing to hunt pheasants in Allegany State Park are reminded that they must pick up a free hunting permit at the Administration Building near Red House Lake before hunting in the park. No small game hunting is allowed in Allegany State Park during the regular big game season that runs from Nov. 16 until Dec. 8. 

Please refer to the attached table for a summary of the number of pheasants to be stocked and release sites in each county. Questions should be referred to DEC’s Bureau of Wildlife at (716) 851-7010 in Buffalo or (716) 372-0645 in Allegany. Additional information about pheasant hunting is available on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8363.html. 

2020 WNY Pheasant Stocking Locations