More than 15,000 ring-necked pheasants will be released at 24 Ohio public hunting areas this fall to provide additional hunting opportunities across the state.
The Division of Wildlife will release pheasants on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, prior to the small-game weekends for youth hunters.
Youth ages 17 and younger can hunt statewide for rabbit, pheasant and all other legal game in season during two designated weekends, Oct. 22 and 23 and Oct. 29 and 30.
Ohio’s small game hunting season begins Nov. 4, with pheasant releases to take place Nov. 3 and Nov. 10. The final release of the year is scheduled Nov. 23, and should provide improved pheasant hunting opportunities during the Thanksgiving weekend.
A table of scheduled release numbers and locations can be found at bit.ly/2016ohiopheasant.
Hunters should note that pheasants will no longer be released at Shreve Wildlife Area in Wayne County.
Youth and regular pheasant hunting within the Ringneck Ridge Area in Sandusky County requires a free permit from the Sandusky County Park District. For more information visit sanduskycountyparks.com.
Pheasant hunting season opens Nov. 4, and remains open through Jan. 8 with a daily bag limit of two rooster (male) birds. No hens (females) may be killed. Females are all brown while the males have a green head, a red and brown body and long tail feathers.
Statewide pheasant hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.