The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced new late-season pheasant stocking for enhanced hunting opportunities in Region 7. Throughout December, DEC will release approximately 2,160 adult ring-necked pheasants on lands open to public hunting in Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.
Traditional annual pheasant stocking efforts take place from late-September through mid-November. In response to pheasant hunter feedback collected during a statewide survey, DEC is implementing December releases at the following locations:
Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area, Cayuga and Tompkins counties
Long Pond State Forest, Chenango County
Michigan Hill State Forest, Tioga County
Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Onondaga County
Tioughnioga WMA, Madison County
Whitney Point Multiple Use Area, Broome County
The table below lists stocking dates and the number of birds anticipated for release for each site in this new late-season stocking effort. Stocked pheasants will be provided by DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca.
Hunting at the Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area in King Ferry requires a reservation. Details on area-specific regulations and how to obtain a hunting reservation can be found on DEC’s website.
DEC encourages hunters to review the 2024-2025 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before going afield and to be sure of their targets and beyond when hunting. The guide identifies boundary restrictions and other important information. Note that "cock only" and "cock and hen" boundary descriptions are on page 40 of the guide. A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites is available on DEC’s website on the 2024 Pheasant Release Sites Interactive Mapper.
Program-related questions may be answered by contacting DEC Region 7 Bureau of Wildlife at (607) 753-3095 ext. 247 in Cortland.
Find additional information about pheasant hunting on DEC’s website.
Property Name | Approx. Number of Birds | Weeks Stocked | Special Considerations |
Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | 840 | 12/2 – 12/8 12/9 – 12/15 12/16 – 12/22 12/23 – 12/29 | - Reservations required - Hunter registration required |
Long Pond State Forest | 112 | 12/9 – 12/15 12/16 – 12/22 | - Please do not block gates with vehicles |
Michigan Hill State Forest | 112 | 12/9 – 12/15 12/16 – 12/22 | - Please do not block gates with vehicles |
Three Rivers WMA | 544 | 12/16 – 12/22 12/23 – 12/29 | - Please do not block gates with vehicles |
Tioughnioga WMA | 446 | 12/9 – 12/15 12/16 – 12/22 12/23 – 12/29 | - Please do not block gates with vehicles |
Whitney Point Multiple Use Area | 112 | 12/9 – 12/15 12/16 – 12/22 | - Please do not block gates with vehicles |
