UPPER DELAWARE AND MID-HUDSON RIVER VALLEYS — Pheasant hunting is underway in New York and for Region 3 (counties of Sullivan, Orange, Delaware Dutchess, Putnam and Ulsters) the season extends from now through February 28.

Annually, about 30,000 adult pheasants, which are raised on a game farm near Ithaca, are released just prior to and during the fall pheasant hunting season. Releases occur across the state on both state and private lands open to public hunting.

New York State also helps sponsor a Day-old Pheasant Chick Program that provides additional opportunities for pheasant hunters. This program was developed in the early 1900s to provide day-old pheasant chicks to cooperating 4-H groups and sportsmen and sportswomen. The chicks are distributed to program participants in May and June, and cooperators incur all costs associated with rearing the birds, including feed, water, utilities and facility construction.

Anyone interested in raising and releasing pheasants to expand next year’s hunting opportunities should contact DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm at 607/ 273-2768.

To find the location of pheasant release sites in the Upper Delaware and Mid-Hudson valleys, see www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9349.html.