Pheasant Prospects Remain Good; Tags Now Available for Sale

The DEP will purchase 15,857 adult ring-necked pheasants for the upcoming fall season; a decrease of 1,296 birds from the previous year’s purchase. Most stocking areas will receive adjustments in allocations as a result of the decrease in the number of birds purchased. In addition to adult pheasants, 930 eight-week-old pheasants were purchased and delivered to Norwich Fish and Game and Sprague Rod and Gun Clubs for eventual release on permit-required hunting areas.

The Pheasant Program is self-supporting and the net revenue collected from pheasant hunters in the previous year determines the annual budget. The 2007 stocking program was directly affected by a decrease of approximately $8,000 in the net revenue collected from pheasant hunters in 2006, combined with a substantial annual increase in average pheasant costs. Rising fuel and grain costs continue to impact commercial growers.

Despite the reduction in the number of pheasants stocked, sportsmen should recognize that the ratio of pheasants stocked per hunter has actually increased over the years and the prospects for pheasant hunting are as good as they have been in several years.