DEC Announces First Annual Mentored Pheasant Hunt on Long Island
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will host a mentored pheasant hunt in Suffolk County, designed to provide hunting opportunities for individuals interested in pheasant hunting for the first time, or looking to jump back into the sport. The two-day event will include an instructional day on December 2, 2026, at the Longwood Library, and a hunt day hosted at DEC’s Otis Pike Pine Barrens State Forest on December 5.
Hunters will join small groups with experienced mentors and hunting dogs. Attendees will gain a better understanding of how to prepare for a safe, ethical, and successful pheasant hunting experience, while learning about different hunting dog techniques and other pheasant hunting opportunities New York has to offer.
What: Long Island Mentored Pheasant Hunt
Cost: Free program to hunters of all ages
Instructional Day: Wednesday, December 2, 2026 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Hunting Day: Saturday, December 5, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. to noon
Participants must be at least 12 years of age and possess a valid New York State hunting license or junior hunting license. Any participant under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and have all proper permissions. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and must provide their own firearm and ammunition appropriate for pheasant hunting.
Participants should bring clothing and boots appropriate for winter conditions on Long Island and dress in layers.
Space is limited, and submission of an application does not guarantee selection.
Registration is now open. For more information or to apply, visit HuntFishNY 2026 Region 1 Pheasant Hunt page, Event ID 681. Questions may be directed to Mike Menza by email [email protected], or by phone (631) 444-0355. The event is limited to 15 participants.
The DEC pheasant propagation program supplies more than 50,000 adult pheasants to support upland game bird hunting across New York State and is an important hunter recruitment, reactivation, and retention tool.
Additional information about pheasant hunting is available on DEC’s Pheasant Hunting webpage. Please check DEC’s interactive mapper for detailed hunting lands information.
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