HARRISBURG -- Pheasant hunters, don’t put away your gear just yet.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will be releasing approximately 8,400 pheasants, mostly hens, to provide additional hunting recreation in the last two weeks of pheasant season, which runs through Feb. 28.
“The Game Commission purchases the pheasant chicks raised on our game farms from a private sector supplier,” said Wildlife Operations Division Chief Ian Gregg. “During the 2024 production season, we requested our supplier to raise additional pheasants to be held through the fall and early winter as an ‘insurance policy’ against any disease issues that might arise in the supplier’s primary breeder flocks. Although highly pathogenic avian influenza is known to be present on the Pennsylvania landscape, and it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of a future disease outbreak that could impact 2025 production, the primary breeder flocks have remained healthy to date and it is not feasible for the ‘backup’ birds to also be held into the upcoming breeding season. Therefore, these surplus pheasants will be released a few weeks before the end of the pheasant season to provide late-winter hunting opportunities.”
Releases are planned to occur during a two-day window next week, on Wednesday, Feb. 12 and Thursday, Feb. 13 at select locations in each of the Game Commission’s six regions. Hunters should be aware, however, that logistical issues could result in last-minute changes to the planned schedule.
The locations expected to receive birds in the February stocking are as follows:
Northwest Region
- SGL 95 (Butler Co.)
- SGL 330 (Clarion Co.)
- Buzzard Swamp area, Allegheny National Forest (Forest Co.)
- Shenango Lake (Mercer Co.)
Southwest Region
- SGL 203 (Allegheny Co.)
- SGL 285 (Beaver Co.)
- Conemaugh Lake (Indiana Co.)
- SGLs 117, 232, 245, and 297; Cross Creek Park; Hillman State Park (Washington Co.)
- Loyalhanna Lake (Westmoreland Co.)
Northcentral Region
- SGL 333 (Centre Co.)
- SGL 87 (Clearfield Co.)
- SGLs 252 and 317 (Union Co.)
Southcentral Region
- SGL 249 (Adams Co.)
- SGLs 48 and 97 (Bedford Co.)
- SGL 169 (Cumberland Co.)
- SGL 124 (Franklin Co.)
- SGL 251; Raystown Lake (Huntingdon Co.)
- SGLs 258, 281, and 290 (Perry Co.)
- SGLs 188, 194, and 212 (Snyder Co.)
- SGLs 242 and 243 (York Co.)
Northeast Region
- SGL 40 and Beltzville area (Carbon Co.)
- SGLs 58, 226, and 329 (Columbia Co.)
- SGLs 119 and 187; Butler Enterprises Hunter Access property; Frances Slocum and Nescopeck State Parks (Luzerne Co.)
- SGLs 84 and 165 (Northumberland Co.)
Southeast Region
- SGL 280/Blue Marsh (Berks Co.)
The Game Commission’s regular pheasant stocking schedule extends from early October to early January, with over 240,000 pheasants released during that period in 2024-25 and similar numbers planned for 2025-26.
“This year’s February stockings should be considered experimental, and may or may not be repeated in future years depending on 2025 results, annual evaluation of disease risks, and agency budget constraints,” Gregg said.