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:

Northeast Region: State Game Lands 40 and Beltzville area in Carbon County and Butler Enterprises Hunter Access property; Frances Slocum and Nescopeck State Parks in Luzerne County.

Southeast Region: Includes State Game Lands 280/Blue Marsh in Berks County.

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.