Nov. 02–OGDEN — More than 11,000 pheasants will be released by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on public hunting areas during this season’s pheasant hunt.
The 11,000 birds are more than six times the number released last fall and 20 times the number released in 2011.
This year’s Utah general pheasant hunt opened at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and runs until Nov. 17 across most of the state.
Greg Sheehan, director of the DWR, hopes the hunt will rekindle memories many have of past pheasant hunts in Utah.
“This will also be a great opportunity to introduce new hunters to upland game hunting,” he said. “Plenty of birds will be available to hunt.”
The DWR and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife worked together to buy the birds, which will be released in areas that have good pheasant habitat and good access for public hunters.
“Birds will be placed on wildlife management areas, waterfowl management areas and walk-in access areas,” said Jason Robinson, upland game coordinator for the DWR.
In the Top of Utah area, birds will be released at the Howard Slough Wildlife Management Area, the Ogden Bay Wildlife Management Area, the Harold Crane Wildlife Management Area and near Willard Bay.
Birds will also be released on select walk-in access areas in Box Elder, Cache, Emery, Utah and Wayne counties.
For directions and a complete list of release locations, visit utahdnr.maps.arcgis.com.
In waterfowl management areas, hunters must use nontoxic ammunition, like steel shot. Lead shot may not be used.
Contact reporter Mitch Shaw at 801-625-4233 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @mitchshaw23.