Pheasant have survived and thrived very well in NY for a long time. Pheasants have existed in parts of New York since 1892. By the 1920s wild, breeding populations of pheasants were successfully established across the state. The state propagation program began in 1910. A commitment was made to continue the State’s pheasant management programs when sporting license fees were increased for the 2009-10 license year and beyond.
We are 100% in support of stocking pen-reared pheasant for hunting! Hunting, through stocking is an important part of the NY DEC Pheasant Program; However, the Pheasant Program does not ignore conserving the state's wild, breeding pheasant population. Stocking is done for hunting, and we are very fortunate to have such a great hunting program. It is not however, one of the DEC's strategies to conserve wild, breeding populations of pheasants.
We are 100% in support of stocking pen-reared pheasant for hunting! Hunting, through stocking is an important part of the NY DEC Pheasant Program; However, the Pheasant Program does not ignore conserving the state's wild, breeding pheasant population. Stocking is done for hunting, and we are very fortunate to have such a great hunting program. It is not however, one of the DEC's strategies to conserve wild, breeding populations of pheasants.
Look at the map of the grassland focus area. That represents the sections of the state that wild, breeding populations of pheasant can potentially thrive again, especially in the Lake Plains Counties of Western NY. Now look at the other map. It shows how the range of pheasant has shrunk from 1980 to 1985 compared to 2000 to 2005.
Why has pheasant range shrunk? Many reasons. Two of those many reasons are forestation and modern agricultural practices.
The state's wild, breeding pheasant population is enhanced through incentives given to farmers to operate in a pheasant-friendly manner within the pheasant habitat focus area, and possibly in an even wider area across the grassland focus area. However, through stocking pen-raised birds,pheasant HUNTING is possible outside these focus areas and across the entire state on public hunting lands.
Why has pheasant range shrunk? Many reasons. Two of those many reasons are forestation and modern agricultural practices.
The state's wild, breeding pheasant population is enhanced through incentives given to farmers to operate in a pheasant-friendly manner within the pheasant habitat focus area, and possibly in an even wider area across the grassland focus area. However, through stocking pen-raised birds,pheasant HUNTING is possible outside these focus areas and across the entire state on public hunting lands.