The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that applications for the DEC’s cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program are now available until March 25. This program, provided through the DEC’s partnership with hunters, 4-H youth, and interested landowners. enables people to raise and release pheasants in order to enhance the state’s fall hunting opportunities.

The program began in the early 1900’s, when the State Conservation Department, the precursor of the DEC, gave out pheasant eggs and pheasant chicks to farmers and the rural youth. This tradition extends into modern times, and day old chicks are available for free to applicants that can provide a brooding facility, a covered outdoor rearing pen, and an adequate release site. Approved applicants will receive the chicks in April, May, or June.

The DEC distributed over 31,500 pheasant chicks to applicants over the course of 2020. Applications must be filed with a DEC regional wildlife manager by March 25 (contact information below). A “Pheasant Rearing Guide” and applications are available on the DEC website. For questions about the program or eligibility, email wildlife@dec.ny.gov or call 607-273-2768.

Below is the contact information for your regional wildlife manager:.

Region 1 – Nassau and Suffolk counties:

SUNY at Stony Brook

50 Circle Road

Stony Brook, NY 11790

(631) 444-0310

Region 3 – Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties:

21 South Putt Corners Rd.

New Paltz, NY 12561

(845) 256-3098

Region 4 – Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties:

65561 State Hwy 10, Suite 1

Stamford, NY 12167

(607) 652-7367

Region 5 – Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties:

1115 Route 86, PO Box 296

Ray Brook, NY 12977

(518) 897-1291

Region 6 – Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties:

317 Washington Street

Watertown, NY 13601

315-785-2263

Region 7 – Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga, and Tompkins counties:

1285 Fisher Ave.

Cortland, NY 13045

(607) 753-3095 x 247

Region 8 – Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties:

6274 East Avon-Lima Rd.

Avon, NY 14414

(585) 226-5380

Region 9 – Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara, and Wyoming counties:

182 East Union, Suite 3

Allegany, NY 14706-1328

(716) 372-0645