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Pheasant
Releases Provide Additional Hunting Opportunities in Ohio
Hunters have the opportunity to pursue ring-necked pheasants this fall
at many wildlife areas across Ohio. More than 15,000 ring-necked
pheasants will be released at 27 Ohio public hunting areas to provide
additional hunting opportunities.
Pheasants will be released Friday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 31, prior
to the small-game weekends for youth hunters. Hunters age 17 and
younger can hunt statewide for rabbits, pheasants, and all other legal
game in season during two designated weekends, Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2.
The complete list of release sites is found in the 2014-2015 Ohio
Hunting and Trapping regulations booklet.
Ohio’s pheasant hunting season begins Friday, Nov. 7, and pheasant
releases are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6 and Friday, Nov. 14. The
final release of the year is scheduled to provide improved pheasant
hunting opportunities throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and
will take place Wednesday, Nov. 26.
• This will be the last year that pheasants will be released at the
Dillon Wildlife Area in Muskingum County and Willard Wildlife Area in
Huron County. The habitat at both areas is no longer suitable for
grassland-dependent species such as the ring-necked pheasant.
• Pheasants will be released at the Dillon Wildlife Area on Oct. 24 for
the first youth small-game weekend only. Pheasants will be released at
the Tri-Valley Wildlife Area for the second youth small-game weekend,
Nov. 1-2, and all of the remaining regular-season release dates.
• Youth and regular pheasant hunting within the Ringneck Ridge Area in
Sandusky County requires a free permit from the Sandusky County Park
District. For more information regarding the issuance of these free
hunting permits, contact the Sandusky County Park District Office at
419-334-4495.
• The ODNR Division of Wildlife is conducting a review of its annual
pheasant release program, which has changed little over the last 25
years. Hunters who participate in stocked pheasant hunts can provide
feedback to better tailor this program to the needs of sportsmen,
sportswomen, and youth. ODNR Division of Wildlife staff will distribute
survey cards to hunters on select wildlife areas around Ohio during the
youth small game season (Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2) and the regular
season (Nov. 7 and 15). Hunters who participate in these hunts can
return the survey cards by mail or take the survey online at
wildohio.gov after Monday, Oct. 20.
• Pheasant hunting season is open Friday, Nov. 7 through Sunday, Jan.
4, 2015, with a daily bag limit of two roosters (male pheasants). No
hens (females) can be killed. Females are all brown while males have a
green head, a red and brown body, and long tail feathers. Pheasant
hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.
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