CONTACT:
Brett Ferry: (603)-744-5470
NHFG Wildlife Division: (603) 271-2461
September 18, 2025
Concord, NH – New Hampshire’s hunting season for pheasants gets underway on October 1 and continues through December 31 with a new youth hunt weekend added for September 27–28. This fall, some 10,000 adult ring-necked pheasants will be stocked in all 10 counties with an average of 130 pheasants per site.
The pheasant program relies heavily on cooperative relationships between landowners and the bird hunters who are permitted to use these private properties for hunting. Hunters should always respect the land and property owner’s privacy and safety wherever pheasant stocking and hunting are permitted.
New this year: all pheasant-stocking sites will be closed to pheasant hunting until 2:00 p.m. on in-season stocking days, which are the first three Thursdays and Fridays in October in 2025: October 2-3, October 9-10, and October 16-17. All stocking will be completed on or before October 17.
The full list of towns to be stocked, including youth weekend stocked sites, can be viewed by visiting https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/nh-pheasant-stocking. Printed location lists are also available at NH Fish and Game headquarters and regional offices. Hunters should note that the following locations will not be stocked in 2025: Rollins Road in Rollinsford, Route 12-A/Surry Flood Control Area in Surry, and Patten Hill Road in Candia.
“Please make safe hunting your priority by wearing hunter orange, controlling your firearm muzzle, and knowing where your hunting partners are at all times,” said Fish and Game’s Pheasant Project Leader Brett Ferry. “Shoot only within your zone of fire, maintain control of hunting dogs, and respect adjacent property. Also be aware that many stocking sites, especially those on state and town lands, are shared multi-use areas so be on the lookout for and respect other users.”
“It’s also important to take the time to thank landowners,” Ferry said. “Your behavior on their property in conjunction with your thoughtfulness will help to keep these private lands open for hunting in future years.”
NH Fish and Game asks hunters to refrain from training dogs at release sites during the two days prior to October 1. Dog training flushes pheasants from release sites, often onto posted property or other areas not suitable for hunting.
Pheasant hunters must purchase a $31 pheasant license, in addition to the regular New Hampshire hunting license or non-resident New Hampshire small game license. Licenses can be purchased at http://www.huntnh.com or from any Fish and Game license agent. Pheasants are purchased exclusively with revenues from the sale of pheasant licenses.
Participants in the Youth Pheasant Hunt Weekend must be aged 15 or younger and must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult aged 18 or older. Accompanying adults must possess a current hunting license and pheasant permit and are prohibited from carrying a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow that could otherwise lawfully be used for hunting. Adult participants may accompany no more than two youths, and all youths must comply with all other requirements for the harvest of pheasant. Please note that only select sites will be stocked for this special youth weekend and that all regular pheasant season regulations, including stocking and shooting hours, apply. To learn more about pheasant hunting in New Hampshire and for a list of sites stocked for the 2025 Youth Pheasant Hunt Weekend, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/nh-pheasant-stocking.
All pheasant hunters are urged to follow these basic safety guidelines:
- Wear hunter orange on your head, back, and chest.
- Control your firearm muzzle at all times.
- Always wear safety glasses.
- Know where your hunting partners are at all times.
- Shoot only within your zone of fire.
- Be sure of your target and what is beyond.
- Always keep your hunting dog under control.
For more information on hunting in New Hampshire, including online license and permit sales, visit www.huntnh.com/hunting.
