ODNR to release pheasants for hunting

COLUMBUS — More than 15,000 ring-necked pheasants will be released at 25 Ohio public hunting areas this fall to provide additional hunting opportunities across the state, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife will be releasing pheasants this Friday and Oct. 30, 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. 24-25 and Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

Ohio’s small game hunting season begins Nov. 6, with pheasant releases to take place Nov. 5, and Nov. 13.

A final release of the year is scheduled to provide improved pheasant hunting opportunities throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and will take place Nov. 25.

A map showing release areas on the Tri-Valley Wildlife Area for the youth releases is available at: bit.ly/pheasantrelease.

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 regarding the issuance of these free hunting permits, contact the Sandusky County Park District Office at 419-334-4495.

A table of scheduled release numbers and locations may be found at bit.ly/pheasantlocations.

Pheasant hunting season opens Nov. 6 and remains open through Jan. 10, with a daily bag limit of two rooster (male) birds.

No hens (females) can 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.