Pheasant season opens for junior and mentor hunters; 15,000 birds stocked

Junior pheasant season is set to start Saturday for junior hunters and mentored hunters of any age.

That opportunity will wrap up Oct. 19 and statewide pheasant season starts Oct. 26.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to stock about 15,000 pheasants for the junior season and approximately 237,000 birds through the next few months. Most of those releases will happen on public land. More than 53,000 birds will be stocked in the Southwest region, the most in the state. To find stocking locations, visit pgc.pa.gov.

Officials plan to release pheasants in mid-December and twice after the holidays.

Hunters in this area can harvest male or female pheasants with a daily limit of two. A $26.97 pheasant permit must be purchased in addition to a general hunting license.

There are 75,000 pheasant permits issued annually, Gregg said.

The statewide pheasant season will end Nov. 29. Hunting will be permitted on Sundays Nov. 17 and 24. The season will resume Dec. 16 to 24 and then Dec. 26 to Feb. 28.