The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a youth-only pheasant hunting weekend for Western New York, scheduled for October 11-12, 2025. This event is part of the DEC’s pheasant propagation program, which supplies more than 50,000 adult pheasants each year to support upland game bird hunting statewide. A significant number of these birds are reserved specifically for youth hunting events.
According to the DEC, youth hunts provide an introduction to upland game bird hunting under the supervision of an experienced adult mentor. The aim is to encourage wildlife conservation and promote safe firearm practices among young hunters.
During the weekend event, approximately 1,200 adult pheasants will be released in DEC Region 9 just before the hunt begins. These birds will come from the DEC Reynolds Game Farm.
Youth hunters aged 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an experienced adult during the hunt. Pheasant hunting boundary details can be found on page 49 of the state’s Hunting and Trapping Regulation Guide. All existing regulations remain in effect.
A special permit is required for those wishing to hunt at Joseph Davis, Golden Hill, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks in Niagara County. Each day features two separate hunts: one from sunrise until 12:30 p.m., and another from 12:30 p.m. until sunset. Hunters may only receive one permit per day but can name a second youth hunter on their permit.
To enter the permit lottery for these parks, junior hunters should mail a file card with their contact information and desired date/park location to the respective park offices by noon on Friday, September 26. There is no fee for these permits.
For Allegany State Park, youth hunters must pick up a free permit at the park’s administration building before participating in the hunt.
Questions about permits or specific locations can be directed to park managers or DEC regional offices listed in the announcement. Additional information about pheasant hunting is available on the DEC’s Pheasant Hunting webpage (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8080.html).
For those unable to participate on these dates, other hunting events and training opportunities can be found through HuntFishNY Events (https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/92278.html), a resource that lists hands-on programs offered by DEC and its partners across New York State.
“A large portion of these birds are reserved specifically for youth hunting opportunities. Youth hunts offer a focused introduction to upland game bird hunting with the guidance of an experienced adult hunter to help foster a lifelong connection to wildlife conservation, outdoor ethics, and responsible firearm use,” according to DEC’s statement.
