FWP Announces Deadline for Landowner Pheasant Releases
By Jackalope Jordan

Posted: December 5, 2017

 

Landowners who wish to release pen raised pheasants have until Jan. 15 to submit their application to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

FWP issued the following release on Tuesday:

It is time to submit applications for 2018 pheasant releases through Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program.  Landowners interested in releasing pen-reared ring-necked pheasants must submit an application before January 15th.

Under the Upland Game Bird Release Program, landowners who wish to enhance pheasant populations in suitable habitat may apply to release pheasants annually for up to 5 consecutive years. Landowners may get birds from a certified pheasant raiser or they may raise birds on their own. The program will reimburse the pheasant raiser or landowner for the cost of raising the birds.

Release sites must be comprised of at least 100 contiguous acres of land and contain a combination of habitat components including heavy winter cover, nesting cover, and food- that upland game birds need to survive.  Lands enrolled in the pheasant release program must allow free public access for upland game bird hunting during the hunting season following the release.

Applications for releases must be received at FWP’s Headquarters in Helena no later than Monday, January 15. Pheasant releases on eligible properties will take place between Aug. 1 and Sept. 15.
Hunting preserves, lands that host a commercial hunting enterprise, and lands where hunting rights are leased or paid for are not eligible. Additionally, releases may not take place in Fergus, Richland, or Roosevelt counties.
For more information, and to download an application form, visit FWP’s Web site at fwp.mt.govand search “Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program,” or contact Ken Plourde, the Region 6 Upland Game Bird Habitat Specialist, at 406-474-2244, or by e-mail at  kplourde.fwp@gmail.com.

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