Skip to main content

Pheasants to be released for hunting prior to Thanksgiving

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will release adult rooster pheasants on 18 wildlife management areas prior to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The WMAs are: Arnold Trupp WMA (Morrill County), Arrowhead WMA (Gage County), Bordeaux WMA (Dawes County), Branched Oak WMA (Lancaster County), Cornhusker (Hall County), George D. Syas WMA (Nance County), Hickory Ridge WMA (Johnson County), James N. Douglas WMA (Johnson County), Kirkpatrick Basin North WMA (York County), Oak Valley WMA (Madison County), Peru Bottoms WMA (Nemaha County), Powder Creek WMA (Dixon County), Pressey WMA (Custer County), Rakes Creek WMA (Cass County), Randall W. Schilling WMA (Cass County), Sherman Reservoir WMA (Sherman County), Wilkinson WMA (Platte County), and Yankee Hill WMA (Lancaster County).

To view a map of the pheasant release sites, visit the Upland Hunting page at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

The pheasants will be released to enhance hunting opportunities over the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend and encourage families to spend time together in the field. Non-toxic shot is required at Kirkpatrick Basin North, Peru Bottoms, Randall W. Schilling, and Wilkinson WMAs, but otherwise all usual regulations apply.

Nebraska’s pheasant, quail and prairie grouse seasons run through Jan. 31, 2024. Permits and applicable stamps may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

For more information on these and other publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska, view Game and Parks’ Public Access Atlas online or contact Game and Parks at 402-471-0641.


About Shawna Richter-Ryerson

Shawna Richter-Ryerson is an assistant division administrator for communications at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. She can be contacted at shawna.richter-ryerson@nebraska.gov or 402-471-5565.

Related Articles

Commissioners to consider 2026 mountain lion season

Aug 14, 2025

Commissioners to consider 2026 mountain lion season

NGPC staff will make recommendation for 2026 hunt season at Aug. 22 Commission meeting in McCook.

Read More
Ladies Learn to Pheasant Hunt is Oct. 18-19

Aug 13, 2025

Ladies Learn to Pheasant Hunt is Oct. 18-19

Ladies looking to go on their first upland bird hunt can enjoy this fun opportunity near Beatrice.

Read More
Southwestern WMA roads damaged from heavy summer rains

Aug 7, 2025

Southwestern WMA roads damaged from heavy summer rains

Roads or portions of roads leading to several WMAs are closed because of damage from summer rains.

Read More