WDNR Plans to Increase Pheasant Stocking in 2013
This fall, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources plans to release 75,000 pheasants on 92 public properties across the state. This represents a significant increase from the 54,000 pheasants released on 70 public properties in 2012. The increase in pheasant production is due to the popularity of the pheasant stocking program and to a 30-year low in the wild pheasant population.
The Department will attempt to evenly distribute hunting pressure on public hunting grounds by releasing pheasants on 22 new properties in the traditional pheasant zone. In addition to the new properties, most properties stocked in the past will see increases in the number of pheasants released. Fourteen of the 22 new properties are located in southern Wisconsin, 7 in eastern Wisconsin, and 1 in northwestern Wisconsin. Properties were selected based on the amount of pheasant hunting cover and proximity to large population centers. The 2013 stocking information sheet and property maps can be found by searching for “pheasant stocking” on the WDNR web page; the updated stocking information sheet will be available in early September. The 2013 pheasant hunting season runs from October 19 (noon) to December 31.
The WDNR also cooperates with conservation clubs enrolled in the “Cooperative Day-old Chick Program” to provide pheasant hunting opportunities. In 2013, the department provided 36,250 rooster chicks to 34 conservation clubs. The pheasants raised by the clubs are released on local public hunting grounds and private lands open to public pheasant hunting. The list of private lands open to pheasant hunting is available by calling the game farm office at (608) 635-8120 after October 1.
