Pheasant Stocking Means More Holiday Hunting

The fall 2020 pheasant hunting season opens statewide at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17. / Photo Credit: Tom Koerner, USFWS

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The DNR will stock pheasant at 25 state properties in central and southern Wisconsin during the week of Dec. 20 to increase hunting opportunities throughout the holiday season.

The pheasant holiday stocking began in 2017 to provide pheasant hunters an additional opportunity to hunt during the holiday season. Five state properties were initially stocked in 2017 with another three added in 2018.

Pheasants are one of the most sought-after gamebirds in North America and due to continued interest and popularity among Wisconsin pheasant hunters, the DNR will stock 2,920 pheasants across 25 state properties over a two-day period during the week of Dec. 20. Pheasant season in Wisconsin runs until Jan. 9.

“We are excited to grow holiday stocking to 25 properties this year and offer more opportunities to hunt with family and friends,” says Kelly Maguire, DNR state game farm manager. “The selected areas are located near population centers to provide accessible opportunities to as many holiday hunters as possible as well as areas that see high hunter use throughout the pheasant hunting season.”

Properties to be stocked for the holiday season include:

Albany Wildlife Area, Green County
Avoca Unit of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, Iowa County
Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area, Rock County
Badfish Creek Wildlife Area, Dane County
Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area, Grant County
Brooklyn Wildlife Area, Dane & Green Counties
Evansville Wildlife Area, Rock County
Footville Wildlife Area, Rock County
French Creek Wildlife Area, Columbia County
Goose Lake Wildlife Area, Dane County
Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area, Dodge & Fond du Lac Counties
Jackson Marsh, Washington County
Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area, Jefferson County
Kettle Moraine State Forest Southern Unit, Washington County
Lake Mills Wildlife Area, Jefferson County
Mazomanie Unit of Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, Dane County
Mud Lake Wildlife Area, Columbia County
Mud Lake Wildlife Area, Dodge County
Pine Island Wildlife Area, Columbia County
Richard Bong State Recreation Area, Kenosha County
Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area, Sauk County
Theresa Marsh Wildlife Area, Washington & Dodge Counties
Vernon Wildlife Area, Waukesha County
Waterloo Wildlife Area, Jefferson County
Yellowstone Wildlife Area, Lafayette County

Hunters are required to purchase a 2021 Wisconsin pheasant stamp to pursue these birds. With stamp-funded revenue, the DNR creates and maintains grassland habitats required for pheasants to survive and reproduce year-round. For more information, view the DNR’s 2021 combined hunting regulations.

Hunters can use the DNR’s Fields and Forest Lands Interactive Gamebird Hunting Tool or FFLIGHT to locate cover suitable for ruffed grouse and woodcock, managed dove fields and properties stocked with game farm pheasants. The DNR also invites hunters to check out the Hunt Wild Wisconsin mobile app to explore properties, regulations and document tracks.

Pheasant Stocking Means More Holiday Hunting

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