Pheasants to be released for hunting before Thanksgiving

Nov 21, 2024 / Nebraska Game and Parks Commission/Jerry Kane

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will release adult rooster pheasants on 18 wildlife management areas leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The WMAs are Arnold Trupp WMA (Morrill County), Arrowhead WMA (Gage County), Bordeaux WMA (Dawes County), Branched Oak WMA (Lancaster County), Cornhusker WMA (Hall County), George D. Syas WMA (Nance County), Hickory Ridge WMA (Johnson County), James N. Douglas WMA (Johnson County), Kirkpatrick Basin (North County) WMA (York County), Oak Valley WMA (Madison County), Peru Bottoms WMA (Nemaha County), Powder Creek WMA (Dixon County), Pressey WMA (Custer County), Rakes Creek WMA (Cass County), Randall W. Schilling WMA (Cass County), Sherman Reservoir WMA (Sherman County), Wilkinson WMA (Platte County), and Yankee Hill WMA (Lancaster County).

To view a map of the pheasant release sites, visit the Upland Hunting page at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

The pheasants will be released to enhance hunting opportunities over the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend and encourage families to spend time together in the field. Non-toxic shot is required at Kirkpatrick Basin North, Peru Bottoms, Randall W. Schilling, and Wilkinson WMAs, but otherwise all usual regulations apply.

Game and Parks reminds hunters that safety in the field and of those releasing pheasants is of utmost importance; for this reason, a specific schedule for pheasant releases will not be issued.

Nebraska’s pheasant, quail, and prairie grouse seasons run through Jan. 31, 2025. Permits and applicable stamps may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

For more information on these and other publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska, visit view Game and Parks’ Public Access Atlas online or contact Game and Parks at 402-471-0641.