DEC Now Accepting Applications for Annual Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program

Applications are now available for DEC’s cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program (DOCP), which allows the public to participate in raising and releasing pheasants to enhance the State’s fall hunting opportunities.

Through the DOCP, the department provides Ring-necked Pheasant chicks, free of charge, to approved applicants who can properly raise pheasants and will release adult pheasants at suitable release sites. Applications are due by April 1^st, so don’t wait!  Adult pheasants reared through this program must be released at sites with appropriate pheasant habitat and which allow public pheasant hunting. If you need help finding a release site, check out locations where DEC already releases pheasants in its interactive pheasant release mapper.

For over 100 years, the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program has been providing opportunities for participants to gain animal husbandry experience and has provided numerous additional fall pheasant hunting opportunities. The application to rear pheasant chicks in 2026 can be found on DEC’s pheasant hunting webpage and at the following link: 2026 Day-Old Pheasant Chick Application.

Additional information on pheasants and pheasant hunting; as well as a downloadable guide to rearing pheasants (PDF) can be found at on DEC’s Pheasant Hunting webpage.