The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today a late season release of pheasants on select parcels of state-owned property in DEC Region 4.  DEC will release pheasants the week of December 15 at four locations: Bear Spring Mountain WMA (Delaware County), Margaret Burke WMA (Albany County), Partridge Run WMA (Albany County), and Rensselaerville State Forest (Albany County).  

The regular pheasant hunting season in DEC Region 4 opened on Wednesday, October 1, and ends on Saturday February 28, 2026. DEC has already released approximately 5,000 adult ring-necked pheasants on lands open to public hunting in the region this fall. 

Stocked pheasants will be provided by DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca. A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites are available on DEC’s 2025 Pheasant Release Sites Interactive Mapper and Table. 

Hunters are encouraged to review the 2025-2026 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before going afield, and to be sure of their targets and beyond when hunting. 

Questions about pheasant hunting can be directed to DEC’s Bureau of Wildlife at (518) 357-2355 in Schenectady or (607) 652-7367 in Stamford. Additional information about pheasant hunting is available on DEC’s Pheasant Hunting webpage.