Young hunters ages 12 to 15 can take part in a western New York pheasant hunt Oct. 10 and 11, with special permits required at three Niagara County state parks, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced Wednesday.
Participants must be accompanied by an experienced adult mentor on the day of the hunt. DEC said it will stock approximately 1,480 adult roosters and hens in its western New York Region 9 immediately before the youth weekend, using birds from its Reynolds Game Farm.
The agency's statewide pheasant propagation program supplies more than 50,000 adult birds for hunting opportunities. DEC said a substantial share is reserved for youth hunts intended to introduce new hunters to upland game bird hunting and responsible firearm use.
Niagara park permits due Sept. 25
Joseph Davis, Golden Hill and Wilson-Tuscarora state parks each require a free permit for the youth hunt. Separate permits are required for Saturday and Sunday, and each day has two sessions: sunrise to 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to sunset.
Junior hunters may enter a lottery by mailing a separate standard-size file card for each park and date they want. Each card must list the hunter's name, address, phone number, email address, hunting license back-tag number, requested date and park. A hunter may receive only one permit per day, and a permit winner may name one additional junior hunter.
Entries must be received by noon Friday, Sept. 25. Cards for Golden Hill should be sent to Renee Campbell, Golden Hill State Park, 9691 Lower Lake Road, Barker, NY 14012. Questions about that park's lottery may be directed to 716-795-3885.
Cards for Joseph Davis should be sent to Jasper Reese, Joseph Davis State Park, 300 Portage Road, Lewiston, NY 14092; the park's number is 716-754-7766. For Wilson-Tuscarora, mail cards to David Giambra, Wilson-Tuscarora State Park, 3371 West Lake Road, Wilson, NY 14172; the park's number is 716-751-6361. Cards for different parks may be mailed together in separate envelopes for each park, DEC said.
Allegany hunters need a park permit
Youth hunters at Allegany State Park must pick up a free hunting permit before hunting at the park administration building near Red House Lake, 2373 ASP 1 in Salamanca. Questions about hunting there can be directed to 716-379-6445.
All other pheasant hunting rules remain in effect. DEC points hunters to page 49 of its 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Regulation Guide for boundary descriptions and to its interactive hunting-lands map for site details.
Questions about the western New York youth hunt may be directed to DEC's Region 9 Bureau of Wildlife at 716-379-6402. DEC also lists other mentored hunts, target shoots, seminars and outdoor-skills events through HuntFishNY Events.
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