CONTACT:
Brett Ferry: (603)-868-1095
NHFG Wildlife Division: (603) 271-2461
September 16, 2026
Concord, NH – New Hampshire’s hunting season for pheasants gets underway on October 1 and continues through December 31 with a special youth hunt weekend on September 26–27. This fall, some 9,500 adult ring-necked pheasants will be released in all 10 counties with an average of 130 pheasants stocked per site.
All pheasant-stocking sites will be closed to pheasant hunting until 2:00 p.m. on in-season stocking days which include October 8-9, October 15-16, and October 22-23. All stocking will be completed by October 23.
The full list of towns to be stocked, including sites stocked for youth weekend, 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 there have been changes to two sites previously stocked with pheasants. The site on Whig Hill Road in Strafford will not be stocked in 2026. Additionally, the site on Head Pond Road in Milan will not be stocked. The Milan site has been moved to East Side River Road in Milan.
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.
“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 fellow outdoor enthusiasts.”
“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 2 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 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 September 26–27 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 2026 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.
