The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a youth-only pheasant hunting weekend for several eastern New York counties, scheduled for September 27-28. This initiative is part of the DEC Pheasant Propagation Program, which supplies over 50,000 adult pheasants each year to support upland game bird hunting across the state. A significant portion of these birds are set aside specifically for youth hunting events.
Sean Mahar, DEC Region 4 Regional Director, stated: “Hunting is a time-honored tradition that provides important support to local economies throughout our region and DEC’s conservation efforts in the state. DEC’s youth hunts offer a focused introduction to upland bird hunting with guidance from experienced, adult hunters who help to foster and encourage hunter education, hunting ethics, responsible firearm use, and wildlife conservation that will hopefully last a lifetime for these young hunters. We encourage all interested New Yorkers and their families to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ and join one of the many youth hunting opportunities available this year.”
The event aligns with the Governor’s “Get Offline, Get Outside” campaign aimed at encouraging children and families in New York State to spend less time on electronic devices and more time participating in outdoor activities. The campaign also features challenges such as the recently introduced DEC Challenge, which encourages young people to complete 50 outdoor activities before turning 19. The challenge aims to inspire participants to explore new parks, forests, wildlife management areas, and other locations throughout their communities.
Pheasants for the youth hunts will be provided by DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca. Youth hunters aged 12-15 must be accompanied by an experienced adult mentor during the hunt. A comprehensive list of release sites can be found on the DEC’s 2025 Pheasant Release Sites Interactive Mapper and Table. Hunters are advised to consult the 2025-2026 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before participating.
Participants are reminded that many release sites exist due to cooperation from private landowners; maintaining good relationships with these property owners is essential for continued access.
The regular pheasant hunting season in DEC Region 4—which includes Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties—will begin on October 1. Approximately 5,250 adult ring-necked pheasants will be released on public lands in this region for the fall season.
There are changes this year regarding release locations: stocking will no longer take place at Taconic Ridge State Forest in Rensselaer County due to residential development nearby; however, a new site has been added on Cheese Hill Road in southern Albany County.
For further information about pheasant hunting or specific questions about sites or regulations visit the DEC’s Pheasant Hunting webpage or contact their Bureau of Wildlife at (518) 357-2355 or (607) 652-7367.
