The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced new late-season pheasant stocking to enhance hunting opportunities in DEC’s Region 6. Two stockings in December will release 540 additional adult ring-necked pheasants on lands open to public hunting in Jefferson, Oneida, and St Lawrence counties.

Traditional annual pheasant stocking efforts take place from late-September through October. Late-season pheasant hunting is a great way for new hunters to get involved in the sport and allows experienced hunters the opportunity to head afield after deer season has closed. To provide additional opportunities for both new and experienced hunters to gather with family and friends outdoors, DEC is implementing December releases at the following locations:

1. Perch River Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Jefferson County
2. Oriskany Flats WMA, Oneida County
3. Upper and Lower Lakes WMA, St. Lawrence County
   

The table below lists stocking dates and the number of birds anticipated for release for each site in this new late-season stocking effort. Stocked pheasants will be provided by DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca.

DEC encourages hunters to review the 2024-2025 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 cock and hen harvest boundary restrictions, season dates, and bag limits.  

A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites is available on DEC’s website on the 2024 Pheasant Release Sites Interactive Mapper. Program-related questions may be answered by contacting DEC Region 6 Bureau of Wildlife at (315)-785-2263. Find additional information about pheasant hunting on DEC’s website.