Wild pheasants are few and far between in the East, but many states offer excellent hunting for stocked birds. (Shutterstock)
December 04, 2024
By Rick Bach
Watching a trained dog flush pheasants from cover is a cherished pastime of upland bird hunters, and there are several states in the East where they’ll have great opportunities to do just that this fall. These states offer put-and-take pheasant hunting, where released birds are available to hunters during specific timeframes.
Ringneck pheasants, known for their size, strength and beauty, are not native to North America, but were introduced in the late 1800s and have since become a favorite among upland bird hunters. An adult pheasant can escape a predator almost vertically; once airborne, they can reach speeds of 40 mph.
The Cornell Laboratory of Orni-thology provides a map showing where ringneck pheasants can be found throughout North America, and most of the New England coastal states are right in their range. Pheasants are a particularly good target for beginning hunters, and several states offer youth hunts to encourage continuing the tradition.
CONNECTICUT Pheasant season runs from the third Saturday in October through the end of the year. Hunters must purchase a resident game bird conservation stamp and a Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp if they want to target woodcock as well. Certain areas require one-day permits, which can be purchased at portal.ct.gov. Pheasants are typically stocked two or three days a week until the third week of November, when firearms season for deer opens. Pheasant hunters can shoot two birds per day and kill as many as 10 during the season.
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Dogs can best detect pheasant scent on cool, dewy mornings. If possible, plan your hunt for a day with those conditions shortly after a stocking. (Shutterstock) MAINE The state of Maine stocks about 2,000 pheasants at 20 different sites, primarily in York and Cumberland counties. Maine hunters must have a valid hunting license and a pheasant hunting permit to take their two daily birds (either sex) between Sept. 30 and Dec. 30 each year. Check the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website (maine.gov/ifw) for updates on where birds will be stocked. Hunters must be 100 yards away from any house to discharge a firearm. While Maine stocks pheasants annually, some birds survive the winter, and there has even been some reproduction documented.
MASSACHUSETTS Pheasant season runs from Oct. 19 through Dec. 31 in Massachusetts, except for Sundays and during shotgun season for whitetails, which runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 14. Hunters can take two birds per day and have as many as four in their possession at any given time; there is no season limit. Birdshot larger than No. 1 is illegal.
To find out where birds are being stocked and how frequently, visit mass.gov and search for “pheasant stocking.” The top result will take you to a map of the state with info on each public area that holds ringnecks.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire has some gorgeous wild country, and the state stocks more than 10,000 pheasants at more than 60 sites throughout it. Hunting is closed before noon on stocking days, a list of which can be found at wildlife.nh.gov. The season runs Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, and hunters can take two birds per day and up to 10 for the season.
New Jersey stocks some 50,000 pheasants on 23 wildlife management areas across the state annually. (Shutterstock) “The birds are stocked once a week for the first three weeks of the season,” says Mark Beauchesne, with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. “They’re stocked in the morning before the weekend, which gives the birds time to put some scent on the ground. A cool morning with dew or fog, which will hold the scent, is best, and the less wind the better. Suitable habitat is going to be any place where they can hide and have a food source and water.”
Scott Rouleau opened New England Upland shooting preserve in Hillsborough in 2016 to offer a private opportunity for New Hampshire hunters. Rouleau’s team stocks 18,000 pheasants on site every year.
“Where you’ve got fields with brush and cover, that’s what makes for good pheasant country,” Rouleau says, adding that a well-trained dog is invaluable.
You’ll improve your odds in New Hampshire by hunting with a private lodge or outfitter. For a full list, visit ultimatepheasanthunting.com. Many of the private clubs offer clay shooting and dog training as well, if you’re just getting into the sport.
NEW JERSEY New Jersey has 23 different wildlife management areas where the state stocks as many as 50,000 pheasants annually. The season runs from Nov. 9 through Feb. 17, with youth hunts earlier in November (check the Department of Environmental Protection website at dep.nj.gov for more info on youth days). Hunters are allowed to possess two pheasants. The state even stocks chukars on 11 WMAs to help hunters train dogs for pheasants. Furthermore, bobwhite quail are stocked on the Greenwood Forest and Peaslee wildlife management areas.
NEW YORK New York’s Department of Environ-mental Conservation (DEC) has stocked as many as 30,000 pheasants in previous years, but this year it plans to put 50,000 birds in the field. The DEC has built an interactive map (dec.ny.gov) to show hunters where public and private hunting is available, and each location has information on when it was last stocked and exact stocking numbers. While the season runs from Oct. 21 to Dec. 31, you are allowed to target cocks and hens during different dates and in different counties, so double-check specifics at the DEC’s website.
New York plans to increase the number of pheasants it stocks this fall from 30,000 to 50,000. (Shutterstock) New York also promotes a special youth pheasant season, where junior hunters aged 12 to 15 who are accompanied by an adult (who cannot carry a firearm) may target these birds. Check the DEC site for when the youth hunting days (typically one weekend, with dates varying by regions) will be offered.
PENNSYLVANIA Keystone State biologists release thousands of birds throughout the state, but Bradford and Luzerne counties see the greatest numbers of total birds available to hunters. The season is broken up into segments. Hunters can take pheasants Oct. 26 to Nov. 29 (including on Sundays, Nov. 17 and 24), Dec. 16 to 24 and Dec. 26 to Feb. 28, 2025. The limit is two birds per day and six in possession at any given time. The state has a helpful interactive map (pgc.pa.gov) that provides pheasant stocking data for each site. Two Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas (WPRAs) are located in Franklin County and another spans Columbia, Montour and Northumberland counties, where the state is attempting to establish a naturally reproducing pheasant population. Pheasants may not be hunted in these areas.
Pennsylvania and New York provide online, interactive maps to help hunters locate and learn more about pheasant stocking areas. (Shutterstock) RHODE ISLAND Pheasant season runs Oct. 26 through Feb. 28 in the Ocean State, and hunters need a game-bird permit to take their two pheasants per day. Pheasants are stocked twice weekly in October and November, and once weekly in December. They are not stocked in January and February. Birds are typically stocked the night before hunting days begin. Hunters on Block Island must have written landowner permission and may only shoot roosters in a special season. Check for updated regulations at dem.ri.gov.
This article was featured in the November 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
