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Programs
Hunting programs
Three statewide records cover programs rather than places: DEC pheasant release sites (105 properties in 2026), DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (87 mapped properties) and the NYC DEP watershed lands program.
Photo: born1945 (CC BY 2.0)
About hunting programs
Three statewide records cover programs rather than places: DEC pheasant release sites (105 properties in 2026), DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl (87 mapped properties) and the NYC DEP watershed lands program.
Approximately 50,000 adult pheasants released annually on over 100 sites open to public pheasant hunting (DEC Pheasant Hunting page). Release sites on public land link to their own pages.
The waterfowl map lists state properties and two refuges; DEC notes that not every unit is open for the whole season.
From lands.json (DEC, DEP, NYS Parks and federal sources); checked October 27, 2026.
Hunting programs, sorted A to Z with a filter
| Place | Type | County | Acres | WMU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEC pheasant release sites | DEC program | Albany, Allegany… | – | – |
| DEC waterfowl hunting places | DEC program | Cattaraugus, Cayuga… | – | – |
| NYC watershed lands | DEP program | Delaware, Greene… | 106,450 | 3A, 3C |
Public land on the stocking list and the waterfowl map
81 public lands with pages here are on the 2026 pheasant stocking list, and 79 are on the DEC waterfowl map. Birds per site come from the stocking weeks DEC lists for each property.
DEC pheasant program and DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl; checked October 27, 2026.
Hunting programs, one by one
DEC pheasant release sites
About 50,000 adult pheasants are released before and during the season on over 100 sites open to public pheasant hunting (DEC).
DEC waterfowl hunting places
DEC: "Not every unit of a property may be open for waterfowl hunting or open for the whole season.
NYC watershed lands
DEC Places to Hunt: hunters need a valid NYS hunting license and a valid DEP Access Permit to hunt designated hunting areas on City water supply lands;
Hunting programs in pictures
Where are pheasants stocked?
On 105 properties in 2026, most of them public land with pages here.
Is there a youth pheasant hunt?
Yes, for junior hunters 12-15 with a licensed adult.
Where can I find waterfowl hunting places?
The DEC Places to Hunt Waterfowl map, summarized on its program page.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).