New York › Species › Ring-necked Pheasant
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Ring-necked Pheasant: New York hunting rules for 2026-27
Dates by WMU or zone, limits, licenses and where to go for pheasants.
Photo: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0)
Pheasant hunters in New York work from the DEC guide; this page lays out its pheasant rows, Sep 26, 2026 to Feb 28, 2027, and the rules around them.
Ring-necked Pheasant: the short version
- Limits: 2/day upstate; LI 4/day, 30/season
- Season shape: Oct. 1 or Oct. 17 openers by area; cocks-only lake plains units; youth hunts.
- More: ~50,000 stocked yearly.
DEC guide page (as of Aug 24, 2026), checked October 27, 2026.
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Ring-necked Pheasant dates, 2026-27
Each pheasant row with its area, WMU count, legal methods and length in days.
| Season | Covers | WMUs | Gear | Opening | Closing | Span | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Pheasant Hunt | Northern and Eastern NY | 51 WMUs | Shotgun or bow; junior hunters 12-15 with mentor (mentor unarmed) | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 2 | |
| Regular Season (cocks and hens) | Northern and eastern NY | 51 WMUs | Shotgun, bow, crossbow (no rifles or handguns), dogs | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 151 | |
| Youth Pheasant Hunt | Western NY | 38 WMUs | Shotgun or bow | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 11, 2026 | 2 | |
| Regular Season (cocks and hens) | Central and western NY | 26 WMUs | Shotgun, bow, crossbow, dogs | Oct 17, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 135 | |
| Regular Season (cocks only) | Lake plains/Finger Lakes WMUs | 12 WMUs | Shotgun, bow, crossbow, dogs | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 76 | |
| Youth Pheasant Hunt | Long Island (no youth hunt in 2A) | 2 WMUs | Shotgun or bow | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 2 | |
| Long Island (cocks and hens) | Nassau and Suffolk west of the Shinnecock Canal and Inlet (1A, western | 3 WMUs | Shotgun, bow (no rifles); 2A falconry only | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 61 | |
| Eastern Long Island, cocks | WMU 1C | 1C | Shotgun, bow | Nov 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | 61 |
Notes on the pheasant rows
- Sunrise to sunset. Youth hunt Sept. 26-27, 2026. ~50,000 pheasants released annually.
- Sunrise to sunset. Youth hunt Oct. 10-11, 2026.
- Cocks only. Youth hunt Oct. 10-11, 2026.
- Youth hunt Oct. 24-25, 2026 (no youth hunt in 2A).
- Cocks only. Youth hunt Oct. 24-25, 2026.
From DEC guide page, DEC guide page, checked October 27, 2026.
Ring-necked Pheasant seasons unit by unit
Units sharing the same pheasant dates are grouped together; click a WMU for its full season list.
| Hunt | Trap | Count | WMU list |
|---|---|---|---|
Oct 1–Feb 28; Sep 26–Sep 27 | 51 | 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4Y, 4Z, 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 5R, 5S, 5T, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K, 6N, 6P, 6R, 6S, | |
Oct 17–Feb 28; Oct 10–Oct 11 | 26 | 7F, 7J, 7M, 7P, 7R, 7S, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X, | |
Oct 17–Dec 31; Oct 10–Oct 11 | 12 | 7H, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8M, 8S, 9A, 9C, | |
Nov 1–Dec 31; Oct 24–Oct 25 | 2 | 1A, | |
Nov 1–Dec 31 | 1 |
WMU lists read from the 2026-27 guide season maps and DEC WMU layer, checked October 27, 2026. All 92 WMUs.
Where pheasant rules change in New York
Pheasants follow area lines drawn from WMUs.
| Pheasant class | WMUs | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1-Feb. 28, either sex | 51 | 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4Y, 4Z, 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 5R, 5S, 5T, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K, 6N, 6P, 6R, 6S, |
| Oct. 17-Feb. 28, either sex | 26 | 7F, 7J, 7M, 7P, 7R, 7S, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X, |
| Cocks only | 12 | 7H, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8M, 8S, 9A, 9C, |
guide small game maps, checked October 27, 2026.
State land that lists pheasants
Acreage, county and WMU for each public tract that lists pheasant.
| Place | Category | Acres | Counties | WMU | Species tag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany | State Park | 64,160 | pheasant | ||
| Hammond Pond | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 46,850 | 5G, | pheasant | |
| Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area | Cooperative Hunting Area | 22,479 | Cayuga · | pheasant | |
| Finger Lakes National Forest | National Forest | 16,389 | Schuyler · | pheasant | |
| Sugar Hill | State Forest | 9,213 | pheasant | ||
| Upper & Lower Lakes | Wildlife Management Area | 8,803 | pheasant | ||
| Oak Orchard & Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas | Wildlife Management Area | 8,350 | Erie · +2 | pheasant | |
| Perch River | Wildlife Management Area | 8,050 | pheasant | ||
| Northern Montezuma | Wildlife Management Area | 7,738 | Cayuga · +1 | pheasant | |
| Bear Spring Mountain | Wildlife Management Area | 7,140 | 4W, | pheasant | |
| Hemlock-Canadice | State Forest | 7,060 | pheasant | ||
| High Tor | Wildlife Management Area | 6,937 | Ontario · | pheasant | |
| Stewart | State Forest | 6,653 | pheasant | ||
| Lake Shore Marshes | Wildlife Management Area | 6,442 | pheasant | ||
| Rocky Point Pine Barrens | State Forest | 5,796 | pheasant | ||
| Partridge Run | Wildlife Management Area | 4,592 | pheasant | ||
| Hanging Bog | Wildlife Management Area | 4,562 | pheasant | ||
| Fish Creek | Wildlife Management Area | 4,556 | pheasant | ||
| South Valley | State Forest | 4,482 | pheasant | ||
| Wilson Hill | Wildlife Management Area | 4,036 | pheasant | ||
| Three Mile Bay | Wildlife Management Area | 3,966 | pheasant | ||
| Tioughnioga | Wildlife Management Area | 3,903 | pheasant | ||
| Otis Pike Pine Barrens | State Forest | 3,860 | pheasant | ||
| Vernooy Kill | State Forest | 3,721 | pheasant | ||
| Three Rivers | Wildlife Management Area | 3,608 | 7A, | pheasant | |
| Split Rock Mountain | Forest Preserve Wild Forest | 3,542 | pheasant | ||
| Birdseye Hollow | State Forest | 3,496 | pheasant | ||
| Long Pond | State Forest | 3,185 | pheasant | ||
| Bashakill | Wildlife Management Area | 3,090 | Orange · | pheasant | |
| Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area and | Multiple Use Area | 2,979 | 9M, | pheasant | |
| West Settlement | NYC watershed unit | 2,922 | pheasant | ||
| Braddock Bay | Wildlife Management Area | 2,865 | 8A, | pheasant | |
| Rensselaerville | State Forest | 2,830 | Albany · | pheasant | |
| Honeoye Inlet | Wildlife Management Area | 2,763 | pheasant | ||
| Klipnocky | State Forest | 2,711 | pheasant | ||
| Carlton Hill | Multiple Use Area | 2,501 | pheasant | ||
| French Creek | Wildlife Management Area | 2,268 | pheasant | ||
| Ashland Flats | Wildlife Management Area | 2,027 | pheasant | ||
| Plainfield | State Forest | 1,862 | pheasant | ||
| Darien Lakes | State Park | 1,844 | pheasant | ||
| Deer Creek Marsh | Wildlife Management Area | 1,771 | pheasant | ||
| Verona Beach | State Park | 1,684 | pheasant | ||
| Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area & Research Reserve | Wildlife Management Area | 1,679 | pheasant | ||
| McCarthy Hill | State Forest | 1,516 | pheasant | ||
| Lake Alice | Wildlife Management Area | 1,489 | pheasant | ||
| Goose Egg State Forest & Batten Kill | State Forest | 1,460 | pheasant | ||
| Lewis Preserve | Wildlife Management Area | 1,326 | pheasant | ||
| Rome | Wildlife Management Area | 1,286 | pheasant | ||
| Michigan Hill | State Forest | 1,199 | pheasant | ||
| Cranberry Mountain | Wildlife Management Area | 1,193 | pheasant | ||
| Saratoga Sand Plains | Wildlife Management Area | 1,148 | pheasant | ||
| Conesus Inlet | Wildlife Management Area | 1,142 | pheasant | ||
| Allegheny | Wildlife Management Area | 1,106 | pheasant | ||
| Point Peninsula | Wildlife Management Area | 1,085 | pheasant | ||
| Nimham Mountain | Multiple Use Area | 1,020 | pheasant | ||
| Conewango Swamp | Wildlife Management Area | 998 | pheasant | ||
| California Hill | State Forest | 983 | pheasant | ||
| Sonyea | State Forest | 926 | pheasant | ||
| Taconic Hereford | Multiple Use Area | 917 | pheasant | ||
| West Mountain | State Forest | 825 | pheasant |
Game lists from DEC, USFWS, USFS, State Parks and NYC DEP pages in our land data, retrieved 2026-10-27. All public land · Wildlife Management Areas.
Ring-necked Pheasant limits, licenses and costs
Limits for pheasants as printed in the guide, then the licenses DEC sells for this hunt.
| Group | Bag |
|---|---|
| Ring-necked pheasant | Upstate 2 per day (cocks and hens, or cocks only where mapped), no season limit; Long Island 4 per day, 30 per season (youth hunt 2 per day). |
Licenses for pheasants
| License | Who | Category | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | resident | Annual, ages 16-69 | $22 |
| Hunting License | nonresident | Annual, ages 16+ | $100 |
| Junior Hunting License | resident | Ages 12-15 | $5 |
DEC guide bag limits and the license fee table, checked October 27, 2026. New York hunting license guide.
Ring-necked Pheasant: hours, blaze, bait and reporting
Ring-necked Pheasant shooting hours
Pheasants may be hunted from sunrise to sunset, the default small game window in the guide.
Can pheasants be hunted on Sunday?
The 2026-27 guide allows Sunday hunting in all areas, so pheasants are open seven days a week in season.
Ring-necked Pheasant and the orange rule
Orange or pink while hunting pheasants is advice from DEC, and it matters most when deer seasons overlap.
Ring-necked Pheasant: bait and feed
Hunting pheasants near a baited spot breaks the upland game bird bait rule.
After the pheasant hunt
Pheasants need no report after the hunt.
Dogs and pheasants
Dogs may be used for pheasants; dog training on raccoon, fox, coyote and bobcat runs July 1-Apr. 15, and on other small game Aug. 15-Apr. 15.
shooting hours, orange and pink rule, Sunday hunting, baiting rules, tagging and reporting, checked October 27, 2026. Legal shooting hours · Hunting laws.
Ring-necked Pheasant methods and violations
| Applies to | Permitted | Prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Small game | Shotgun, rifle, handgun, bow, crossbow, air gun (.17+, 600 fps) for squirrel, rabbit, hare, grouse, furbearers, unprotected species. | Rifles/handguns for pheasant and migratory birds; air guns for waterfowl, pheasant, turkey, big game; crossbows with dogs in the Northern Zone (except coyote). |
Ring-necked Pheasant method rules
- Baiting: No hunting big game, upland game birds, turkey or waterfowl with bait or over a baited area; no feeding deer/bear any time.
- Dogs: Dogs may hunt small game (not spring turkey); no dogs for big game except licensed leashed tracking dogs; dog training on raccoon, fox, coyote, bobcat July 1-Apr. 15, other small game Aug. 15-Apr. 15.
- State land rules: No target shooting unless posted, no camping without permission on WMAs, no ORVs, no cutting vegetation, no permanent stands.
From the DEC guide and ECL Articles 11 and 71 on the NY Senate site, checked October 27, 2026. New York hunting laws.
Ring-necked Pheasant questions
What are the daily and possession limits for pheasants?
Upstate 2 per day (cocks and hens, or cocks only where mapped), no season limit; Long Island 4 per day, 30 per season (youth hunt 2 per day).
How much is a license for pheasants?
From the 2026-27 DEC fee table: Hunting License (resident) $22; Hunting License (nonresident) $100; Junior Hunting License (resident) $5. Licenses are sold through DECALS: online, by phone and at license agents and town clerks.
When does shooting stop for pheasants?
Pheasants may be hunted from sunrise to sunset, the default small game window in the guide.
Does any Sunday rule affect pheasants?
The 2026-27 guide allows Sunday hunting in all areas, so pheasants are open seven days a week in season.
What are the orange rules for pheasants?
Orange or pink while hunting pheasants is advice from DEC, and it matters most when deer seasons overlap.
What are the bait rules for pheasants?
Hunting pheasants near a baited spot breaks the upland game bird bait rule.
Must pheasants be tagged or reported?
Pheasants need no report after the hunt.
Where can you hunt pheasants on public land in New York?
Start with Allegany State Park, Hammond Pond Wild Forest, Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area and Finger Lakes National Forest; 96 properties in all list pheasant.
What weapons are legal for pheasants?
Small game: Shotgun, rifle, handgun, bow, crossbow, air gun (.17+, 600 fps) for squirrel, rabbit, hare, grouse, furbearers, unprotected species. Not legal: Rifles/handguns for pheasant and migratory birds; air guns for waterfowl, pheasant, turkey, big game; crossbows with dogs in the Northern Zone (except coyote).
Are dogs legal for pheasant hunting?
Dogs may be used for pheasants; dog training on raccoon, fox, coyote and bobcat runs July 1-Apr. 15, and on other small game Aug. 15-Apr. 15.
Does DEC stock pheasants every year?
About 50,000 pheasants are released each year, according to the season row notes in the guide.
When can you hunt pheasants in New York?
Sep 26, 2026 is the earliest opener and Feb 28, 2027 the latest closer for pheasants this license year.
Other photos on this page: ilouque (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0).