Wild Heritage Horizons

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife announced the start of the 2023 Pheasant and Quail hunting seasons. Starting November 11th Pheasants will be available statewide on 23 wildlife management areas (WMA), Fort Dix, and in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Quail may be hunted or possessed ONLY on Peaslee or Greenwood Forest WMAs where birds will be stocked to provide hunters and falconers the opportunity to hunt for quail. The statewide quail hunting season remains closed everywhere else in the State.

The South Zone Woodcock Season and the North Zone Duck, Merganser, Coot, Scaup and Brant seasons also open Nov. 11; and the firearm coyote season opens Nov. 11 with bow and arrow continuing.

The Non-native Ring-necked Pheasant is considered one of the most widely hunted upland game birds in North America. Since Pheasants have a hard time maintaining a wild population, stocking occurs in the fall, right before the season. This year New Jersey is releasing 57,480 Ringed Neck Pheasants onto 23 Wildlife Management areas.

If you’re going afield for Pheasants remember to look around thick cover in the very early hours and late hours of the day when they are coming out of or going into their roosts. In the morning, they will move to get some gravel or grit to fill their gizzards and move to a food source like a grain field.

In the afternoon Pheasants may find a loafing area near their food source and then repeat the pattern of gizzard and stomach filling before returning to a roosting site for the night.

Remember that New Jersey requires 200 sq. inches of hunter orange when hunting small game with a firearm on any pheasant/quail-stocked WMA. A SOLID hunter orange hat, with NO camouflage or logos is required.

Do you have any Pheasant Hunting Stories or tips and tricks to share for any first time Pheasant Hunters? Leave a comment below!

Below are some helpful links with more information of small game and upland game hunting for New Jersey.

To see the 2023 Pheasant Stocking Schedule click here.

To look through the Pheasant / Quail Stocking Maps, click here.

For a view at the New Jersey Upland Game Birds Regulations, click here.

To see other small game regulations, click here.