DEC Announces Site Closures on Pheasant Stocking Days in Western New York

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a new change starting this season for hunting pheasants in DEC Regions 8 and 9. Pheasant hunting season in western New York will open on Saturday, October 17, 2026, and pheasant hunting and dog training on pheasants will be prohibited at stocking sites during stocking days. The sites remain open for other forms of wildlife-related recreation. Stocking days in Region 8 are Tuesdays and Fridays, and stocking day closures are effective for the entire pheasant hunting season. Stocking days in Region 9 are described below and stocking day hunting closures are in effect through October and November.

Stocking day pheasant hunting closures are part of a targeted DEC pilot program to evaluate if allowing released pheasants more time to acclimate and disperse improves hunt quality and hunter satisfaction. Properties stocked with pheasants will be posted with signs indicating the hunting closures.

DEC will release approximately 7,284 adult Ring-necked Pheasants on lands open to public hunting in Region 8 and 7,316 pheasants in Region 9 this season. Stocked pheasants will be provided by DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca. A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites, including any special rules for each location, is available on the 2026 DEC Interactive Pheasant Stocking Mapper. Hunters are encouraged to check the updated interactive map to confirm stocking site status and property-specific access rules and plan their outings ahead of time. The numbers of pheasants listed on the map are approximate and subject to change due to habitat alterations, weather events, or unforeseen circumstances.

Hunters are also encouraged to review the 2026-2027 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide (PDF) before going afield. The guide identifies important pheasant hunting information, including “cock only” and “cock and hen” boundary descriptions on page 49. For more details on pheasant hunting, please check DEC’s website at: Pheasant Hunting.

Hunters are reminded to ask permission from private landowners before hunting on private lands. Many pheasant stocking sites are available for hunting because of the cooperation of private landowners. Good landowner/hunter relations are critical to ensure that these areas remain open to hunting in future years. 

Pheasant hunting questions may be answered by contacting DEC’s Region 8 Bureau of Wildlife at (585) 226-5380 and DEC’s Region 9 Bureau of Wildlife at (716) 379-6402. 

Additional Fall Pheasant Season Requirements for Region 9 

The following hunting closures will occur on DEC Region 9’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and Multiple Use Areas (MUA) to improve hunt quality and the hunting experience: 

Pheasant hunting is closed each Friday at Carlton Hill MUA and each Thursday at Zoar Valley MUA, Clear Lake WMA, Hanging Bog WMA, Keeney Swamp WMA, Conewango WMA, Alder Bottom WMA, Harwood Lake WMA, and Allegheny Reservoir WMA during October and November.   

A special permit is required for hunting small game during the opening day of pheasant season on Zoar Valley MUA in the town of Collins (Erie County), and Harwood Lake MUA in the town of Farmersville (Cattaraugus County). Please contact DEC’s Region 9 Bureau of Wildlife at (716) 379-6402 with questions regarding the permit. Small game hunting on all other days will remain sunrise to sunset with no permit required. 

Hunters should also note that dogs are not allowed within the designated area on the MUA for any purpose during the 48-hour period immediately preceding opening day of the fall pheasant season as posted on Zoar Valley MUA and Harwood Lake MUA. 

Hunting throughout the pheasant season is allowed at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks in Niagara County. However, permits are required on October 10, 11, 17, 24, and 31 for Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks. There will be two separate hunts each day a permit is required with the first hunt between sunrise until 12:30 p.m., and the second hunt from 12:30 p.m. until sunset.

Hunters interested in entering the permit lottery at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora State Parks should mail a separate, standard-size file card for each date, time, and park that they would like to hunt. Only one permit will be issued to each hunter per day. Cards may be put into an envelope for each respective park and mailed together to the appropriate address below: 

Golden Hill State Park
Renee Campbell
9691 Lower Lake Rd.
Barker, NY 14012
(716) 795-3885  

Joseph Davis State Park
Jasper Reese
300 Portage Rd.
Lewiston, NY 14092
(716) 754-7766

Wilson Tuscarora State Park
David Giambra
3371 West Lake Road
Wilson, NY 14172
(716) 751-6361

Information on the file card should include the hunter’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, 2026-2027 hunting license number, hunt date, a.m. hunt or p.m. hunt, and desired park location. Entries will be computerized to avoid duplications. Please call the respective Park managers at the numbers provided above with questions regarding the permit lottery. No pheasant hunting will be allowed at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora State Parks on release days: October 9, 16, 23, and 30. There is no fee for the permit and hunters awarded permits will have the option of naming one additional hunter on their permit.

Hunters wishing to hunt pheasants in Allegany State Park are reminded that they must pick up a free hunting permit at the Administration Building, 2373 Allegany State Park Route 1, Salamanca, NY 14779, near Red House Lake before hunting in the park. No small game hunting is allowed in Allegany State Park during the regular big game season that runs from November 21 to December 13, 2026. Please call 716-379-6445 for inquiries about pheasant hunting in Allegany State Park. 

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