Nov. 7 to Feb. 15: New Jersey Pheasant Season Dates and Rules for 2026-27
November 9, 2026
Pheasant hunting season in New Jersey 2026-27 opened on Saturday, November 7, 2026, and it runs through February 15, 2027. That is a long window, but it has a gap in the middle that catches hunters off guard. The season closes December 7 to 12 and again on December 16 for the deer firearm season.
New Jersey is a stocked-bird state, so your success depends on knowing where and when birds are released. This article walks you through season dates, youth days, licensing, limits, shooting hours, and the rules for dogs, Sundays, and transport.
Pheasant Hunting Season Dates in New Jersey 2026-27
According to the NJDEP Fish and Wildlife upland game bird regulations, the general pheasant season runs November 7, 2026 to February 15, 2027. The season is closed December 7 to 12 and on December 16, 2026.
New Jersey’s administrative code sets the season framework. Under N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.2, the season for shotgun or bow and arrow begins on the Saturday following the first Monday in November.
| Season | Dates | Daily Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Upland Bird Day | October 31, 2026 | 2 |
| Youth Pheasant Days | November 2 to 6, 2026 | 2 |
| General Season | November 7, 2026 to February 15, 2027 (closed December 7 to 12 and 16) | 2 |
| Semi-Wild Preserves | November 7, 2026 to March 15, 2027 | No limit |
| Commercial Shooting Preserves | September 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027 | No limit |
Pro Tip: Mark December 7 to 12 and December 16 on your calendar now. Those closure dates apply statewide to the general pheasant season.
Youth Pheasant Hunting Season in New Jersey
Young hunters get two head starts before the general opener. The NJDEP regulations list a Youth Upland Bird Day on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and Youth Pheasant Days from November 2 to 6, 2026. Both are for properly licensed youth hunters under the direct supervision of a licensed, non-hunting adult aged 21 or older.
The Take a Kid Hunting program adds guided options. Youth hunters between 10 and 16 who do not pre-register for a guided hunt can hunt during special hours on any one of ten Wildlife Management Areas.
The Monday-through-Friday youth days now sit right before the regular opener. That gives kids a quieter shot at freshly stocked fields.
- Youth Upland Bird Day: October 31, 2026, with a mentored 7 a.m. start and an open hunt at 1 p.m.
- Youth Pheasant Days: November 2 to 6, 2026, sunrise to one-half hour after sunset
- Daily limit for youth pheasant hunts: 2
For more on how New Jersey structures its other seasons, see our New Jersey deer hunting season guide.
Pheasant Season Zones, Regions and Counties in New Jersey
New Jersey does not split the pheasant season into zones. The general season is listed as statewide, with the same dates everywhere, including the same December closures.
What varies by location is stocking. Birds are released only on designated Wildlife Management Areas, and NJDEP publishes maps showing which fields are stocked on each area. Those maps are the closest thing to a regional guide you will find for pheasant.
Deer seasons, by contrast, do use zones. If you hunt both, our Pennsylvania deer season guide shows how a neighboring state handles its zone system.
Pheasant Hunting License, Stamp and Permit Requirements in New Jersey
You need a valid New Jersey hunting license plus a Pheasant and Quail Stamp. The New Jersey eRegulations upland game bird page states that the stamp is required in addition to your hunting license.
A federal Harvest Information Program (HIP) certificate is also listed for woodcock and other migratory species, at $2. Pheasant and quail stamps are valid for the calendar year, January through December.
| Item | Cost (as of November 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pheasant and Quail Stamp | $40 | Required for hunters 16 and over on stocked WMAs; valid for the calendar year |
| Hunting license plus stamp, example | $67.50 | Based on a $27.50 license and the $40 stamp |
These figures come from SNJ Today’s license rundown, which reports the $40 stamp and the combined $67.50 cost. Because license prices vary by hunter category, confirm your exact total on the NJ Fish and Wildlife license sales site when you buy.
Licenses expire December 31, 2026, so hunters who plan to hunt in January and February 2027 will need a 2027 license and stamp.
Nonresident Pheasant Hunting in New Jersey
Nonresidents can hunt New Jersey’s stocked pheasant, but they must hold a nonresident hunting license and the Pheasant and Quail Stamp. The stamp requirement is the same one that applies to residents on stocked WMAs.
Because New Jersey’s pheasant program is built around stocked public land, nonresidents have the same access to those areas as everyone else. Check the stocking maps and schedule before you travel.
Out-of-state hunters from nearby states may also like our Delaware deer season guide and the New Jersey dove season page for trip planning.
Pheasant Bag and Possession Limits in New Jersey
The daily limit is 2 pheasant. The same limit applies to youth hunters on the Youth Upland Bird Day and Youth Pheasant Days. Partridge, which share the same season dates, carry a separate daily limit of 7.
Semi-wild and commercial shooting preserves have no daily limit, but birds must be tagged before they leave the preserve. Species are restricted to those approved on the preserve’s license.
Keep your limit in the field, not in the truck. Count each bird the moment it is in your game bag.
Rooster-Only and Hen Rules for Pheasant Hunting in New Jersey
NJDEP’s published upland bird regulations list the pheasant daily limit as 2 without a sex restriction in the season table. Some third-party summaries describe rooster-only rules, but the state’s regulation table does not make that distinction.
Read the current New Jersey Hunting and Trapping Digest before you hunt so you know exactly what applies to the field you choose. Stocked birds are usually identifiable at flush, so take a clear look before you shoot.
Pheasant Shooting Hours in New Jersey
New Jersey changed this rule for 2026-27. NJDEP’s summary of game code changes says hunting hours for pheasant, chukar partridge, Hungarian partridge, and bobwhite quail are now sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Youth Pheasant Days use the same hours. The Youth Upland Bird Day has its own start times: 7 a.m. for the mentored hunt and 1 p.m. for the open hunt.
Another change affects waterfowl hunters who share the same WMAs. There is no longer an 8 a.m. start time to hunt waterfowl on opening day of pheasant season on WMAs stocked with pheasant and quail.
Legal Weapons, Shot Size and Methods for Pheasant in New Jersey
New Jersey regulations allow pheasant to be taken with a shotgun or with a bow and arrow. That wording appears in the administrative code for the annual pheasant season.
The state’s rules also address vehicles. The upland regulations remind hunters about restrictions on hunting while in or on a vehicle, including ATVs and UTVs.
Check the Digest for the current shot requirements on WMAs, since some areas require nontoxic shot. Pick your load before you head out, not at the parking lot.
Blaze Orange and Safety Rules for Pheasant Hunters in New Jersey
Stocked pheasant WMAs have a specific orange rule. One hunting guide notes that hunters on stocked areas need a solid orange hat, not camo orange. Plan on wearing solid hunter orange on your head and torso whenever you hunt a stocked field.
December brings extra traffic. The Six-Day Firearm deer season runs December 7 to 12, 2026, which is why pheasant season closes during those days.
Pro Tip: Carry a bright orange vest and hat in your truck all season. Stocked WMAs fill up fast on release days.
Wild vs. Stocked Pheasants in New Jersey
New Jersey’s pheasant hunting is almost entirely based on stocked birds. The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) is not native to North America, and wild populations in New Jersey are limited by habitat.
The state raises and releases birds for hunters. As Ultimate Upland’s New Jersey overview puts it, the state is a stocking-oriented upland destination rather than a wild-game-bird destination.
Stocked birds are released the evening before the hunt dates listed in the stocking schedule. Plan your day around those dates.
Where to Hunt Pheasants in New Jersey: Public Land and Walk-In Access
Public Wildlife Management Areas are your main option. One summary reports that the state has more than 750,000 acres of public land open to hunting, with a WMA system topping 358,000 acres across 122 areas.
Several WMAs are known for pheasant. Assunpink WMA near Trenton is often named for November pheasant, and Black River WMA is another listed option. Greenwood Forest and Peaslee WMAs are the two areas that also stock quail.
- Open the NJDEP pheasant and quail stocking maps page.
- Pick a WMA and check which fields are stocked.
- Match your trip to the stocking schedule.
- Buy your license and stamp before you go.
NJ Fish and Wildlife also lists dog training areas on eleven WMAs, stocked with chukars for pre-season practice, on its upland game bird page.
Hunting Pheasants on Private Land in New Jersey
Private land is the other half of the picture. You need permission from the landowner before you hunt, and the stamp requirement for stocked WMAs does not replace that permission.
Licensed semi-wild preserves and commercial shooting preserves offer a different route. Commercial preserves are open September 1, 2026 to May 1, 2027, and semi-wild preserves run November 7, 2026 to March 15, 2027, both with no daily limit.
Preserves are also where Sunday hunting is allowed, which makes them useful for weekend planning.
Pheasant Population Outlook in New Jersey This Season
Expect a steady, stocking-driven season. Ultimate Upland rates the ring-necked pheasant outlook as good, noting that roughly 50,000 birds are scheduled for release across 23 WMAs.
Dry conditions can change cover and bird behavior, but they do not change how many birds are released. Wild pheasant numbers play little role in your odds.
One local report lists pheasant releases on stocked WMAs from November 7 to 28, 2026, with a second round from December 19 to 31, 2026.
Best Time to Hunt Pheasants in New Jersey
Birds are fresh on stocking days, so the first weeks of the season usually offer the most birds in the field. The stocking schedule tells you the evening before each release, which lets you plan your best mornings.
The second release round in late December gives you another chance after the deer-season closure. Weekdays tend to be quieter than Saturdays.
| Window | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| November 7 to 28, 2026 | First round of releases on stocked WMAs |
| December 19 to 31, 2026 | Second round of releases |
| January to February 15, 2027 | Fewer hunters, birds left over from earlier releases |
Hunting Pheasants with Dogs in New Jersey
Dogs are allowed when hunting pheasant, quail, partridge, crow, and woodcock, according to the NJDEP upland regulations. A good flushing or pointing dog helps you find birds in dense field edges.
The Take a Kid program also uses trained bird dogs and volunteer mentors for guided youth hunts. If you want to train a dog before the season, the state provides chukar-stocked dog training areas on eleven WMAs.
Sunday Pheasant Hunting in New Jersey
Sunday hunting is not allowed for the general pheasant season. The NJ eRegulations upland page states there is no Sunday hunting except on commercial and semi-wild hunting preserves.
That means public WMA hunts are Monday through Saturday only. If you want a Sunday hunt, a licensed preserve is your legal option.
New Jersey’s turkey season has its own Sunday rules, which you can read in our New Jersey turkey season guide.
Tagging, Transporting and Possessing Pheasants in New Jersey
Birds taken on public WMAs do not need a tag. Birds from commercial shooting preserves must be tagged before transport off the preserve, and the same applies to semi-wild areas.
Keep your license and stamp with you while you hunt and while you transport birds home. Keep your total within the daily limit of 2 on public land.
Pheasant Hunting Season in New Jersey 2026-27: Frequently Asked Questions
When does pheasant season open in New Jersey?
The general season opened November 7, 2026 and closes February 15, 2027, with closures December 7 to 12 and on December 16.
What is the daily limit?
The daily limit is 2 pheasant on public land. Preserves have no daily limit.
Do I need a stamp?
Yes. You need the Pheasant and Quail Stamp in addition to your hunting license, and it is valid for the calendar year.
Can I hunt pheasant on Sundays?
Not during the general season. Sunday hunting is allowed only on commercial and semi-wild hunting preserves.
What are the shooting hours?
Sunrise to one-half hour after sunset, per the 2026-27 game code changes.
Can kids hunt before the opener?
Yes. Youth Upland Bird Day is October 31, 2026, and Youth Pheasant Days run November 2 to 6, 2026.
For another neighboring-state comparison, see the Ohio deer hunting season guide.