The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife will begin stocking pheasant and quail on November 12 in preparation for the 2004 - 2005 hunting season. Birds will be released on 23 wildlife management areas as well as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Stocking will continue through December 30 with a total release of 60,000 pheasants and 11,000 quail.

Opening day of the pheasant and quail season is Saturday, November 13.

Pheasants are raised at the Division of Fish and Wildlife's historic Rockport Pheasant Farm in Mansfield, Warren County, while quail will be purchased from a private facility. Pheasant and quail stocked for hunting are paid for by sportsmen and women through the purchase of a Pheasant and Quail stamp.

Hunters will be pleased to note the availability of 10,000 additional pheasants for stocking this year, as well as the release of the entire pheasant and quail-stocking schedule. The extra birds are the result of a 20% increase in production at the Rockport Pheasant Farm for the 2004 hunting season. In addition, the Fish and Game Council has decided to release daily stocking numbers for pheasant and quail. The schedule includes exact quantities of birds stocked each day similar to how trout-stocking information is released.

"If you're a pheasant hunter or thinking about becoming one, 2004 is your year," said Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Martin J. McHugh. "With 10,000 more birds and fewer hunters participating, the possibilities for success are greatly enhanced." "Now is the perfect time to buy a pheasant and quail stamp and take advantage of these extra opportunities." "It's easier than ever to locate a place to hunt, find out when birds will be stocked, and even how many will be released on a given day."

Additional pheasants have made for some exciting changes to the opening day allotments in the northern, central and southern parts of the state. For example, changes in this year's stocking schedule for North Jersey include 900 pheasants for the Flatbrook Wildlife Management Area and 780 pheasants for the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. This represents an increase of 200 pheasants for Flatbrook and 170 pheasants for the Delaware Water Gap when compared to last year's opening day numbers.

In Central Jersey, the Assunpink Wildlife Management Area will be stocked with 600 pheasants and the Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area will receive 500 pheasants for opening day representing an increase of 180 pheasants for Assunpink and 80 pheasants for Colliers Mills as compared to last year. In South Jersey, the Millville Wildlife Management Area will be stocked with 500 pheasants and the Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area will receive 300 pheasants for opening day representing an increase of 170 pheasants for Millville and 70 pheasants for Tuckahoe.

The quail portion of the Pheasant and Quail Stocking Program remains the same as in 2003. A total of 11,000 quail will be released on the Greenwood Forest (Ocean County) and Peaslee (Cumberland County) Wildlife Management Areas. A total of 5,500 quail will be stocked on each wildlife management area for the season. The stocking season will also begin prior to the November 13 opening day and continue through December 30.

The pheasant and quail stocking list is tentative and may change due to inclement weather. Individuals hunting for pheasant and quail on stocked wildlife management areas must possess a New Jersey Pheasant and Quail Stamp in addition to a valid firearm-hunting license.

A complete list of stocking days, including numbers of birds stocked is on this web site. Those without computer access, may obtain a copy of the list by calling 609-259-2132 or writing to the:

NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife Central Region Office
Assunpink WMA
1 Eldridge Road
Robbinsville, NJ 08691

The following is a list of wildlife management areas in New Jersey that will be stocked with pheasant and quail. Note that bird quantities for individual days and areas can be found on the web or by contacting the Division.

In the northern region, a total of 31,600 pheasants will be released on the Flatbrook, Whittingham, Walpack, Black River, Berkshire Valley, Pequest and Clinton Wildlife Management Areas for hunting on November 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 and December 2, 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will be stocked with pheasants for November 13, 20, 25, 27 and December 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30.

In the central region, a total of 14,200 pheasants will be stocked on the Colliers Mills, Howardsville, Manahawkin, Stafford Forge*, Medford, Assunpink and Manasquan Wildlife Management Areas. The Colliers Mills and Assunpink Wildlife Management Areas will have birds for hunting on November 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 and December 2, 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30. The Howardsville, Manahawkin, Medford, Manasquan and Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Areas will have birds on November 13, 20, 25, 27 and December 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30.

Hunters in this region should note that the Fort Dix Military Base will not be stocked with pheasants this hunting season due to security concerns. These birds have been re-allocated within the central region.

* Stafford Forge hunters should note that the fields adjacent to the Wildlife Management Area entrance off Stafford Forge Road will not be stocked with pheasants this hunting season due to dam reconstruction efforts. The dam is located on Stafford Forge Road and as a result, these fields are within the 450-foot safety zone perimeter. The pheasants normally allocated to these front fields will be transferred to the fields along Route 539 on the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area. Additionally, Stafford Forge Road at its intersection with Route 539 will be closed during the reconstruction project. Hunters wishing to access the entrance area and hunt the stocked fields in back of the impoundments must enter the area from Route 9 and proceed along Stafford Forge Road.

A total of 14,200 pheasants are scheduled to be stocked in the southern region on the Glassboro, Dix, Mad Horse, Millville, Nantuxent, Port Republic, Tuckahoe, Winslow and Heislerville Wildlife Management Areas. The Glassboro, Dix, Millville, Nantuxent, Port Republic and Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Areas will have birds on November 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30 and December 2, 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30. Mad Horse, Winslow and Heislerville Wildlife Management Areas will have birds on November 13, 20, 25, 27 and December 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30.

The 11,000 quail will be stocked evenly between the Greenwood Forest (5,500 birds) and Peaslee (5,500 birds) Wildlife Management Areas. Birds will be available for hunting on November 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 30 and December 2, 4, 18, 21, 23, 28 and 30.

Pheasant Hunters Receive Holiday Bonus - 12/7/04
Pheasant Stocking - Days Birds are Available - updated 12/8/04 (pdf, 9kb)