During its heyday, the ringneck pheasant was one of the most popular species for Pennsylvania hunters, with over 700,000 licenses recorded in 1971. Although that interest dropped dramatically during the 1980s, pheasant hunting remains popular for Keystone outdoorsmen.
Before 1980, it was common to see pheasants strolling through area backyards, along the roadside, or gathering in a fresh-cut field. Unfortunately, that is now a rare site unless you find yourself near a local Gameland after stocking. But this does not mean that pheasants are a thing of the past for Southcentral hunters. There are still plenty of birds to be had if you know where to look.
Most of today’s pheasants are the result of stocking by the Game Commission. Each year the Commission raises and stocks birds throughout the Commonwealth in what is pretty much a put-and-take scenario. There are 11 stocking points in Adams County and those directly bordering it, including 19 State Gamelands and Codorus State Park. These sites will collectively receive over 16,000 birds during the 2024 season, or roughly half of the 31,780 allotted for the 11 counties comprising the Southcentral Region. The largest stocking will be at SGL 169 just west of Newville, Cumberland County with 4,810 birds scheduled for the 2024 season.
SGL 169 is by far my favorite of these places to hunt pheasant. Not just because it is stocked so heavily but because it offers almost every type of cover a pheasant can want, meaning it’s easier for birds to escape and survive past the first-day blitz. Speaking of blitzes, I am not the only one who enjoys SGL 169. Last year’s opening day saw cars and hunters from near and far. As a result, some of the parking lots were full and a few of my favorite fields were overrun with orange. Still a great hunt, but keep in mind it may be crowded.
My second choice would be SGL 242 outside Dillsburg, York County. For many years I never considered hunting this location. I had visited the site countless times, primarily to use the shooting range, but did not think anything could compare to my home Gamelands 169. But then I took a walk and looked around. This site was absolutely beautiful, and offered many of the same habitat features that made SGL 169 so attractive. My attraction was solidified when I finally got a chance to hunt it for the first time. After meeting a couple of buddies for a quick afternoon hunt I was hooked.
While it is no longer common to see wild pheasants in Pennsylvania, one of the 2 remaining natural flocks can also be found in the Southcentral. Franklin County is home to a 19,000 acre Wild Pheasant Recovery Area and although off limits to hunting, offers valuable insight into the life and habits of wild pheasants. Because the stocked pheasants are raised to be as wild as possible with limited human contact while growing to adulthood, this information can also be valuable to hunters.
When hunting the local Gamelands you will want to focus on the same types of areas wild pheasants would frequent. Soon after their release, these birds, despite being raised in captivity, will head for itsthe hedgerows, standing corn, high grass, and heavy shrubs for cover. Cover could be as impressive as a miles long hedgerow and thick briars or a grass covered ditch or simple depression in the otherwise vacant field. These are the areas hunters will want to focus their attention.
Pheasants quickly learn that cover and concealment are the keys to avoiding an early death. This means it is rare to see a bird casually strolling in the open. In fact, pheasants have been known to hold still in what the believe to be the perfect hiding spot. Some have even held tight until almost stepped on by a dog or hunter before breaking cover. When a bird is jumped you will have only a few seconds to react before its burst of energy during initial take off will carry them out of gun range and sailing to new cover.
If you jump a bird don’t panic. Simply, watch as it glides to safety near it’s new cover. Resist the temptation to run after it in hot pursuit. Where there is one pheasant there is likely to be more. Instead, mark its likely location and continue working the field or cover between you and that location. When you get close pay special attention to the area where the bird landed and be ready to shoot. Keep in mind that pheasants will often run on the ground after landing, especially when spooked, and will usually head for the protection of thick cover.
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Tom Burrell grew up hunting, fishing and exploring the wilds of Northeast Pennsylvania. After serving in the Marine Corps and Coast Guard he returned to PA as a Waterways Conservation Officer and settled in Cumberland County. Now he spends his time once again exploring the woods and waters of the Keystone State.