Photo courtesy of the late Joe Forma Photo Collection Pheasant hunting success is never easy and requires practice at the clay target range to become proficient.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on Tuesday, this week, announced the regular pheasant hunting season in Western New York will open on Saturday, Oct. 18.

The DEC wildlife team will release approximately 6,102 adult ring-necked pheasants on Region 9 lands where hunting is open to the public for the upcoming fall season. The DEC Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca will provide the pen-raised stocked pheasants. A complete statewide list of pheasant release sites is available on the DEC Interactive Mapper, searching for 2025 Pheasant Release Sites.

DEC strongly suggests that hunters review the 2025-26 New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before going afield, with a reminder to be sure of their targets and what’s beyond when hunting. The guide identifies boundary restrictions and other important information, including “cock only” and “cock and hen” boundary descriptions on page 49 of the guide.

There will be specific dates and times closed to hunting on DEC Region 9 Wildlife Management Areas and Multiple Use Areas for safe and effective pheasant stocking to improve hunt quality and the hunting experience. Pheasant hunting is closed each Friday at Carlton Hill MUA, and each Thursday at Zoar Valley MUA, Clear Lake WMA, and Hanging Bog WMA during October and November.

Hunters are reminded to ask permission from private landowners before hunting on their lands.

Many of the release sites are available for hunting because of the cooperation of private landowners. Good landowner/hunter relations are critical to ensure that these areas remain open to hunting in future years. A special permit is required for hunting small game during the opening day of pheasant season on Zoar Valley MUA in the town of Collins — Erie County — and Harwood Lake MUA in the town of Farmersville –Cattaraugus County. Zoar valley will receive 336 birds, Harwood will receive 337.

Hunters interested in entering the DEC permit lottery for these MUAs should mail one standard-size postcard to: NYSDEC-Bureau of Wildlife, 700 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, NY 14209. Postcards must include the hunter’s name, address, telephone number, 2025-26 hunting license number, preferred time of hunt (sunrise to noon or 1 p.m. to sunset), and the management area desired in order of preference. All entries must be received by Thursday, Sept. 25. There is no fee for the permit, and hunters awarded permits will be able to name one additional hunter on their permit. Ten permits will be issued per time block on each management area. Small game hunting on all other days will remain from sunrise to sunset with no permit required. Hunters should also note that dogs are not allowed within the designated area on the MUA for any purpose during the 48 hours immediately preceding opening day of the fall pheasant season as posted on Zoar Valley MUA and Harwood Lake MUA.

Hunting throughout the pheasant season is allowed at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks in Niagara County. However, permits are required on Oct. 18, Oct. 25, and Nov. 1, for Golden Hill, Joseph Davis and Wilson-Tuscarora State Parks.

There will be two separate hunts each day that require a permit, with the first hunt between sunrise and 12:30 p.m., and the second hunt will be from 12:30 p.m. until sunset.

Hunters interested in entering the permit lottery at Golden Hill, Joseph Davis, and Wilson Tuscarora State Parks should mail a separate, standard-size file card for each date and park that they would like to hunt. Only one permit will be issued to each hunter per day.

In Chautauqua County, Alder Bottom WMA off Idora Road and Route 76 near Sherman, will receive 330 birds. In other Cattaraugus County areas, the Conewango Swamp WMA between Route 241 and Conewango Creek will receive 330 birds, and in South Valley, the Allegheny Reservoir WMA near the Bone Run area off Onoville Road will receive 331 birds.

Hunters wishing to hunt pheasants in Allegany State Park are reminded that they must pick up a free hunting permit at the Administration Building (2373 ASP 1, Salamanca, NY 14779) near Red House Lake before hunting in the park. Some 367 birds will be stocked near Wolf Run Road and Upper Bay State Road. REMINDER: No small game hunting is allowed in Allegany State Park during the regular big game season that runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7. Don’t you love the simplicity of NYS hunting rules. Keep smiling, get your shotgun ready.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Sept. 11: 3-D Archery, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls, 4 p.m. start, 15-target hillside course. Kitchen open. Indoor/outdoor ranges. Mike Cummings, 716-652-4650. Ends Sept. 25.

Sept. 13: WNY Walleye Association; 1st Responders/Veterans Day of Fishing, Lake Erie; Reserve your spot. Rick Malik: 716-548-8219 or Steve Haak: 716-225-0229.

Sept. 13-21: NYS special early antlerless deer season in designated WMUs. For DMP and DMAP tags only. See syllabus.

Sept. 14: 3-D Archery, Bear Lake Rod & Gun, 30 targets, 8 a.m. to noon, OPEN HOUSE – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Road, Stockton, Info: Rudy Abersold, 716-397-9717.