Fall pheasant stocking plans announced
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission has slated 112,430 ring-necked pheasants for release on public lands throughout the Commonwealth for the upcoming small game hunting seasons, an increase from the original 100,000 birds planned due to cost-cutting efforts put in place beginning in the 2004-05 fiscal year. “Based on agency’s budget cuts in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 fiscal years, we reduced our pheasant propagation program by 50 percent,” said Vern Ross, Game Commission executive director. “Reducing the pheasant propagation program saved the agency nearly $650,000 over the two fiscal years. Without a hunting license fee increase, we expect to continue producing at the 100,000-bird level for 2006-07. At the reduced level, the agency will realize a savings of nearly $1.1 million over the three fiscal years.
“Despite the overall reductions, this year our game farm staff had an excellent production season with virtually no weather-related problems. This has resulted in a more than 12 percent increase above the 100,000-bird production quota for stocking this fall.”
Ross announced that the increased success rate in production has enabled the agency to provide additional birds for the small game season, as well as restore the stocking allocation to 18,000 birds – up from the initial 15,000 birds – for the fourth annual Youth Pheasant Hunt, which is scheduled for Oct. 8-14.
Ross reminded hunters that each year, beginning in January, hunting clubs are able to assist the agency in raising pheasants, especially during the agency’s lean-fiscal times, by enrolling in the “Pheasant Chick Program.” As part of the program, clubs are required to erect appropriate facilities, purchase feed and cover other expenses, and then they can receive pheasant chicks to raise and release for hunting and dog training purposes.
“We are striving to live within our current revenues,” Ross said. “Now, more than ever, we need sportsmen’s clubs to help us in many aspects, including raising pheasants.”
Ross also noted that, because of limited financial resources and staff shortages, the annual public tours of the agency’s game farms have been cancelled for this year and the foreseeable future.
Carl F. Riegner, chief of the agency’s Propagation Division, said that region staff will begin the stocking season Oct. 6, when the agency will release 18,000 birds (8,780 males and 9,220 females) for the youth pheasant hunt scheduled for Oct 8-14. A listing of stocking locations for the youth hunt can be found on pages 26-28 of the 2005-06 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is provided to each license buyer.
Opening day of the general pheasant hunting season is Oct. 22, and closes on Nov. 26. Pheasants will be stocked for three consecutive weeks in each region starting Oct. 19, prior to the opening day. Preseason releases will consist of 50 percent of the fall allocation, and the two in-season releases will be 25 percent each. Only male pheasants are legal game in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 2A, 2B, 2C, 4C, 4E, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D. Male and female pheasants are legal game in all other WMUs.
Last year, the agency enacted a regulation aimed at improving safety for agency employees and vehicles involved in pheasant stocking.
“Each year, when land management personnel are releasing pheasants from the stocking trucks, employees and trucks are shot at by unsuspecting hunters in the field,” Ross said. “To prevent this, the agency approved a regulation to prohibit hunters from discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a Game Commission vehicle releasing pheasants. We ask that all hunters abide by this new regulation.”
During the regular fall season, pheasants will be stocked on State Game Lands and select state parks and federal lands. Game Commission regional offices have an updated publication titled A Guide To Pheasant Releases And More, which identifies State Game Lands, and those state parks and federal lands with suitable habitat that receive pheasant stockings. The publication also is posted on the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), and can be viewed by clicking on “Hunting & Trapping,” then choosing “PGC’s Pheasant Program.”
A regional breakdown for the youth and regular season stocking is as follows: Northwest Region, 6, 570 males and 15,080 females; Southwest Region, 20,470 males and 7,600 females; Northcentral Region, 3,540 males and 8,880 females; Southcentral Region, 8,060 males and 7,920 females; Northeast Region, 6,870 males and 6,360 females; and Southeast Region 20,420 males and 660 females. Regional allocations are based on the amount of suitable pheasant habitat open to public hunting and pheasant hunting pressure.
This year, the late season is scheduled for Dec. 12-23 and Dec. 26-Feb. 4, for Wildlife Management Units 1A, 1B, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B and 4D. Male and female pheasants are legal game in these WMUs. All other WMUs are closed during these dates. Also, there will be no late-season hen stockings this year.
For details on the pheasant seasons, please see pages 25-28 of the 2005-2006 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting & Trapping Regulations.
For a complete listing of pheasant stockings planned for each county, visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on “Hunting & Trapping,” and choose “2005 Pheasant Stockings by County.”
While the agency was able to restore the youth pheasant hunt allocation to 18,000, clubs hosting mentored youth pheasant hunts had to purchase birds on their own this year.
“Given the cutbacks, we were unable to provide the 2,000 birds for mentored youth pheasant hunts as we did in the past,” Ross said. “As a result, we only received information for five club-sponsored mentored youth pheasant hunts to post on our website.
“However, we know that a number of clubs have purchased birds from private breeders and again plan to host hunts this year. The youth pheasant hunt, including the mentoring component, has been very successful.”