Pheasant hunting season kicks off Oct. 25 in Pennsylvania

Dust off the shotgun and break out the fluorescent orange hat, vest and upland hunting pants as Pennsylvania’s pheasant season kicks off Saturday, Oct. 25. The split season runs until Nov. 28 and includes all Sundays within that range (Oct. 26-Nov. 2, Nov. 9, Nov. 16 and Nov. 23). If hunting state parks, Sunday hunting is allowed only on Nov. 16 and Nov. 23. 

The statewide season reopens after the firearms deer season, running Dec. 15-24, then Dec. 26- Feb. 28. No Sundays are open for pheasant  hunting during these periods. 

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), they plan to release approximately 215,000 birds incrementally through early January, with most releases occurring on public land. 
Since last week’s junior pheasant season that opened Oct. 11 (and runs from Oct. 11-18) where the PGC released about 16,000 pheasants, the PGC will release birds statewide weekly from late October through late November. In addition, a mid-December release will bolster hunting opportunities prior to the holidays, and some sites will be stocked twice after Christmas for late season hunting. 

So, the big question is, where is the PGC releasing birds? In years past the agency would release birds on various farms that participated in the Farm/Game Co-Op program. Unfortunately, those days are gone as many of these farms have changed hands (like the one I used to hunt in Lynnville, Lynn Township) or houses were built on farms. I would also pheasant hunt at my grandfather’s land in Ironton which is also built up. 

So the PGC had no choice but limit their releases to state game lands and in northern Lehigh County on SGL 205. 

Another pheasant hunting spot, per a social media post, is Beltzville State Park that reportedly has a notable pheasant population. 

And unlike in the past when only male cockbirds could be taken and females were protected in hopes they could reproduce, the PGC now releases a mix of  male and female birds at a ratio of about three males for every female. Their reasoning, “Although protecting hens is an important aspect of wild pheasant management, survival of propagated pheasants is too low to support sustainable populations, even without hunting mortality, says the PGC.” True, because it seemed that before hunting season opened, freshly released pheasants would be killed for a meal by foxes, coyotes, hawks even great horned owls. Rarely road-killed. 

In addition to a general hunting license, pheasant hunters also need a permit that costs $26.97 that’s available at license issuing agencies or online at HuntFishPA. Years ago, a permit was not needed only a hunting license. Senior lifetime resident license holders who acquired their licenses prior to May 13, 2017 are exempt from needing a permit. Also, junior hunters and mentored permit holders under 17 need a free permit. 

You may ask why a pricey permit? According to the PGC, although pheasant permit revenue is not earmarked specifically for the propagation program, and does not completely offset the cost of raising and stocking pheasants, it’s important in ensuring the financial sustainability of the program. Permit revenue for the 2024-25 license year was nearly $1.5 million. And over 75,000 pheasant permits are issued each year. 

The PGC notes that there will be about 8,000 banded pheasants over the course of the season that will be released and hunters who shoot one of find one deceased, are asked to notify the PGC by calling the toll-free number stamped on the leg band and report the date found and location. 
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Additionally, rabbit season also opened Oct. 18 as did grouse season, our state bird.