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DEC is accepting applications for sponsored pheasant hunts — free, non-competitive events coordinated by a group, club, individual, or organization to benefit youth, women, first-time hunters, veterans, and/or people with disabilities.
As part of the program, DEC provides up to 50 game farm-raised pheasants to each sponsoring organization free of charge. Applications are due to applicants’ regional wildlife office by Sept. 1.
In addition to the pheasants reared for fall stocking throughout New York State, DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca raises 2,000 pheasants each year for sponsored hunts. In a sponsored hunt, dedicated local hunters share their expertise with beginners in a supportive environment. This program gives individuals the chance to embark on a life-long pursuit of hunting and outdoor enjoyment.
Volunteers are key to this program’s success. To sponsor a hunt, interested individuals and organizations should contact the local DEC regional office for an application (a list of DEC regional offices is provided below). Program requirements and applications are available for download on DEC’s website. Successful applicants will be notified via phone. If an application is approved, sponsors are required to arrange with the Reynolds Game Farm to coordinate a delivery time, date, and location.
New Yorkers are encouraged to recreate responsibly and Play Smart * Play Safe * Play Local. Organizers of sponsored hunts should be prepared to follow state guidelines for social gatherings to minimize the community spread of COVID-19. Social gatherings are only permitted if 10 or fewer people are in attendance in Phase One regions, 25 or fewer people in Phases Two and Three regions, and 50 or fewer people in attendance in Phase Four regions. The current phase for each region is shown on this map. For more information, visit the New York State Department of Health website.
DEC Regional Offices in the Adirondacks:
R5 – Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties:
1115 Route 86, PO Box 296
Ray Brook, NY 12977
(518) 897-1291
R6 – Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties:
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601
315-785-2263
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Are these birds tame too, in other words “sitting ducks”? Encouraging young people to kill birds does not seem that useful an activity, even though pheasants are at least not a native one. Can’t there be shooting programs that do not involve live animals able to suffer if not killed instantly?
There are other great ways to encourage outdoor enjoyment.
These birds do not suffer once shot. Seems like a better time then ever before to teach young and old people how to harvest their own food. It wasn’t that long ago that stores ran out of meat; at least that’s what people told me. The meat we consume doesn’t come from a store, it comes from woods.