Sportsmen’s organizations with approved propagation facilities can augment local ring-necked pheasant stockings and increase localized hunting opportunities by raising day-old pheasant chicks supplied free-of-charge by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Information and applications to participate can be downloaded from the agency’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by putting your cursor over “Hunt/Trap” in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, then clicking on “Hunting” in the drop-down menu listing, then selecting “Pheasant” in the “Small Game” listing, and then clicking on “Cooperating Sportsmen’s Clubs Pheasant Chick Program.” In order for Game Farm superintendents to plan and set hatches to accommodate requests, the Bureau of Wildlife Management must receive completed applications by March 31.

In 1929, the Game Commission began the propagation of pheasants on an extensive scale with the establishment of two game farms. Over the next six decades, to offset the increasing demand from hunters for pheasants, three other farms were placed into operation, and the day?old pheasant chick program was implemented and made available to sportsmen’s organizations, 4?H clubs, farmers, and other cooperators for rearing and releasing on areas open to public hunting.

In 1959, the number of pheasant chicks distributed to cooperators reached 229,685, an all-time high, in addition to the more than 88,500 pheasants raised and released by the agency. Unfortunately, cooperator participation has dwindled significantly over the last few decades. In recent years, only a dozen or so clubs have participated; raising and releasing 4,000 to 5,000 birds.

Since 2012, the Game Commission has raised and released more than 200,000 pheasants annually.

Wayne Laroche, Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management director, said the agency provides, free of charge, day-old pheasant chicks to clubs entering into an agreement with the Game Commission to raise birds and promote recreational hunting on lands open to public hunting. Gender is not determined as the chicks are boxed for distribution, but the chicks generally are at a one-to-one male/female ratio. The number of chicks received depends on the size of the club’s facility. The agency will provide enrolled clubs with plans for a brooder building, covered pen, and guidelines for rearing pheasants.