Wyoming Pheasant Season Opens November 1 With a Three-Rooster Daily Limit in Most Areas
November 9, 2026
Pheasant hunting season in Wyoming 2026-27 starts earlier than most hunters expect, because the Springer permit hunt in Hunt Area 8 kicks things off in mid-October. The statewide general season follows, generally running November 1 through December 31, 2026, with rules that change from one hunt area to the next.
Wyoming’s pheasant rules are built around hunt areas, stocked release sites, and permit stamps rather than one statewide set of rules. This article walks you through the dates, limits, licenses, and access options so you can plan a trip with confidence.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s Chapter 11 regulation governs upland game bird and small game seasons, including pheasant. Always read the hunt area description for the exact ground you plan to hunt.
Pheasant Hunting Season Dates in Wyoming 2026-27
The general pheasant season generally opens November 1, 2026, and runs through December 31, 2026, though dates vary by hunt area. Wyoming Game and Fish publishes the official dates in Chapter 11, which sets season dates, bag limits, and shooting hours for each hunt area.
The earliest pheasant action is the Springer permit season. At Springer WHMA (Area 8), pheasants will be stocked daily during the Springer Special Hunt running from October 15 through October 31.
| Season | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Springer Permit Pheasant (Area 8) | October 15 to October 31, 2026 | Permit required; drawn application |
| General Pheasant Season | Generally November 1 to December 31, 2026 | Dates and limits differ by hunt area |
Pro Tip: Print the Chapter 11 hunt area table for your target county before you leave. Cell service is thin on much of Wyoming’s eastern plains and river valleys.
Youth Pheasant Hunting Season in Wyoming
Wyoming sets aside youth-only pheasant days at several stocked areas, giving young hunters first crack at released birds. For the dates and locations listed on the Game and Fish release page, pheasant hunting is restricted to youth only.
The Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area and Pheasant Hunt Area 2 carry a youth-only hunt, and the Springer permit season includes days reserved for youths. In 2024, for example, youth-only hunt days at Springer took place on October 12, 20, and 26. Check the 2026 Chapter 11 text for this season’s exact youth dates.
Game and Fish has also teamed with the First Hunt Foundation and volunteers on mentored hunts for first-time hunters ages 10 to 17, so ask your regional office whether one is planned near you.
Pheasant Season Zones, Regions and Counties in Wyoming
Wyoming divides pheasant hunting into numbered hunt areas. Chapter 11 describes each one by county or by named lands, and the rules for dates, limits, and hours attach to the area.
- Area 1: All of Fremont County, excluding those lands described in pheasant hunt areas set out separately in the regulation.
- Area 8: Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area in Goshen County, which hosts the October permit hunt.
- Area 9: Glendo State Park and bordering Bureau of Reclamation lands, with Glendo permits tied to specific days.
- Areas 7, 8, 9 and 11: Southeast Wyoming areas where the Pheasant Special Management Permit applies on Access Yes land.
Pheasant hunting opportunities exist throughout much of the state, including released birds, as well as wild, self-sustaining populations. The best-known wild pheasant country is in irrigated farmland along the North Platte River, the Bighorn Basin, and the eastern plains.
Pheasant Hunting License, Stamp and Permit Requirements in Wyoming
You need a valid Wyoming hunting license and a conservation stamp before you hunt pheasants, plus any special permit tied to the area. Wyoming adds a pheasant-specific stamp on top of those basics for many stocked and walk-in areas.
According to Game and Fish, a pheasant special management stamp is required to hunt pheasants on some wildlife habitat management areas, some lands enrolled in the Walk-in Area program, and some state lands. Revenue from this permit helps finance pheasant rearing and stocking at the Sheridan and Downar bird farms.
In the southeast, in hunt areas 7, 8, 9 and 11, a Pheasant Special Management Permit is required on any land enrolled in the Access Yes Program open to pheasant hunting.
The Springer permit season is limited by application. There is a Springer permit pheasant season in Hunt Area 8, and the Game and Fish application announcement lists Springer pheasant applications as opening April 1 and closing June 1 each year. Those windows have passed for this season, so plan ahead for next year’s draw.
Nonresident Pheasant Hunting in Wyoming
Nonresidents can hunt pheasants in Wyoming, and the state’s wild and released birds draw visitors from across the Plains. You buy the same game bird license structure and pheasant stamp as residents, though nonresident license prices differ. Check the Game and Fish license page for the current fee schedule before you buy.
Plan your lodging around the stocked areas. Torrington, Wheatland, Riverton, and Sheridan put you near release sites, and Glendo State Park sits on a main highway corridor, which makes it an easy stop on a longer Wyoming trip.
If you are also planning a big game trip, see our guide to deer hunting season in Wyoming and our page on dove hunting season in Wyoming to combine seasons.
Pheasant Bag and Possession Limits in Wyoming
Most Wyoming hunt areas allow three pheasants per day with a possession limit of nine. The Chapter 11 tables show a daily limit of 3 and a possession limit of 9 for the general season, while some areas use a lower limit of 2 daily and 6 in possession.
| Hunt Type | Daily Limit | Possession Limit |
|---|---|---|
| General season (most areas) | 3 | 9 |
| Special or reduced-limit areas | 2 | 6 |
Possession limits cover birds in your vehicle, camp, and freezer. Count carefully on multi-day trips.
Rooster-Only and Hen Rules for Pheasant Hunting in Wyoming
In most hunt areas, only male pheasants are legal, which protects the hens that drive next year’s population. The Chapter 11 tables list “male pheasant only” for most general-season areas.
Some stocked areas allow any pheasant during release periods. Game and Fish notes that any pheasant may be taken on the Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake WHMAs during the release period. Those birds are released with a mix of sexes, and 40-45% are typically males and the remaining 55-60% are females.
Pro Tip: Learn to tell a rooster in flight before opening day. A long tail and a flash of white neck ring on a flushing bird saves you from a costly mistake in a rooster-only area.
Pheasant Shooting Hours in Wyoming
Shooting hours depend on the hunt area, which is a common trip-up for hunters used to simple half-hour-before-sunrise rules. Chapter 11 lists several different start times across the pheasant tables.
- Many general-season areas run from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Some stocked areas open later, at 8:00 a.m., so birds released the night before are not shot at dawn.
- Some weekday hunts close at 2:00 p.m.
Release crews usually stock birds after shooting hours end. As Game and Fish explains, personnel generally release birds after the close of shooting hours on the release day (after 2 pm).
Legal Weapons, Shot Size and Methods for Pheasant in Wyoming
Shotguns are the standard tool for Wyoming pheasant hunting, and falconry is also a legal method. Upland game birds may be taken with falcons in accordance with Chapter 11’s falconry section.
Wyoming requires nontoxic shot on many public lands and habitat management areas, and rules vary by site. Read the hunt area description and the area’s access notes for any shot restrictions before you load up. Hunting aids and methods that apply to upland birds are spelled out in Chapter 11.
Hunters should also respect area closures. The Downar Bird Farm and Springer Headquarters in Goshen County are closed to pheasant hunting as marked by signs. The Sheridan Bird Farm is also closed, except during hunts sponsored and supervised by Game and Fish.
Blaze Orange and Safety Rules for Pheasant Hunters in Wyoming
Wyoming does not require hunter orange for pheasant hunting statewide, but it does on specific public lands where hunters crowd together. Anyone hunting pheasants within a Game and Fish wildlife habitat management area, or on Bureau of Reclamation withdrawal lands bordering and including Glendo State Park, must wear at least one outer garment of fluorescent orange or pink.
That garment can be a hat, shirt, jacket, coat, vest, or sweater. Wear it anyway on any busy walk-in area.
- Know where your hunting partners are before every push.
- Check in and out at the Springer Check Station during the permit hunt.
- Keep muzzles pointed in a safe direction when crossing fences and ditches.
Wild vs. Stocked Pheasants in Wyoming
Wyoming offers both wild, self-sustaining birds and released birds. Wild birds live mostly in irrigated croplands and river bottoms, while stocked birds are raised at state-run farms and released on public ground.
Releases from the Sheridan and Downar bird farms begin before the season opening dates and continue through the last week of the season or until birds are no longer available. In 2025, Downar Bird Farm had an above-average hatch and released approximately 18,000 pheasants throughout the region.
Release sites in southeast Wyoming include Springer WHMA, Table Mountain WHMA, and Glendo State Park. Stocking typically continues through mid-December.
Where to Hunt Pheasants in Wyoming: Public Land and Walk-In Access
Public pheasant hunting in Wyoming centers on Game and Fish wildlife habitat management areas, Glendo State Park, and the Walk-in Area program (called Access Yes). Each has its own stamp and rules.
| Location | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Springer WHMA | Goshen County | Daily stocking during the October special hunt |
| Table Mountain WHMA | Southeast Wyoming | Stocked through the general season if drought persists |
| Glendo State Park | Platte County | Fluorescent orange or pink required |
| Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake WHMAs | Near Riverton | Release calendar posted online |
| Access Yes walk-in areas | Goshen and Laramie counties | Pheasant special management permit in Areas 7, 8, 9 and 11 |
Ocean Lake has a seasonal restriction too. The regulation closes lands near the aeration system on the north side of Ocean Lake to pheasant hunting beginning in mid-December. Additionally, the areas around Bump Sullivan Reservoir and south of Road 42W are closed to pheasant hunting after November 13.
Game and Fish also posts a stocking calendar for Ocean Lake and Sand Mesa, which shows each day that pheasants will be released this season.
Hunting Pheasants on Private Land in Wyoming
Private land holds much of Wyoming’s wild pheasant population, and you need landowner permission before you step on it. Knock on doors early in the week, offer to share your harvest, and leave gates the way you found them.
Many landowners enroll in the Access Yes Program, which opens their ground to public pheasant hunting under state rules. Enrolled land open to pheasant hunting in the southeast requires the pheasant special management permit, so you do not need to hunt for the owner on those parcels.
If a property is not enrolled and not posted open, ask first. Trespass rules in Wyoming are strict, and a good relationship with a farmer can give you access for years.
Pheasant Population Outlook in Wyoming This Season
Wyoming’s wild pheasant outlook for 2026 is mixed because of drought and weather. Ultimate Upland’s state overview rates Wyoming a poor-to-fair upland bird state for 2026, citing the year’s weather.
Stocked birds offset some of that risk. Game and Fish’s October 8, 2026 release notes that drought conditions and low water levels at Table Mountain have left the ponds unsuitable for waterfowl, and the department says it will release pheasants on the unit throughout the general season to provide additional pheasant hunting opportunities.
Plan on putting more miles on your boots in wild-bird country and leaning on stocked areas if you want reliable action.
Best Time to Hunt Pheasants in Wyoming
The best windows are the first two weeks of November on stocked areas and the late-season cold snaps on wild-bird ground. Birds are easiest to find just after releases, and weather pushes them into heavy cover later in the season.
- Mid-October: The Springer special hunt has daily stocking, but it requires a drawn permit.
- Early November: The general season opens and stocked areas are at peak bird numbers.
- Late November to mid-December: Stocking continues in the southeast, and weekday hunts are quieter.
- Late December: Snow concentrates wild birds near cattails and shelterbelts.
Hunt weekdays when you can. Weekend pressure at Glendo and Springer can be heavy.
Hunting Pheasants With Dogs in Wyoming
A good dog is the single biggest edge you can have on Wyoming pheasants, especially on wild birds that run ahead of hunters through dense cover. Pointers, spaniels, and Labs all work, and a dog that retrieves cleanly cuts down on lost birds.
Release sites can get crowded, so keep your dog under control and close. Pack water for it, since many walk-in areas have none, and check paws often on frozen ground and cheatgrass.
Pro Tip: Bring a blaze orange vest for your dog on busy WHMAs. It protects the animal and helps other hunters see where your dog is working.
Sunday Pheasant Hunting in Wyoming
Wyoming has no general ban on Sunday hunting, so pheasant seasons run on Sundays in the same way as other days. Check the hunt area details, though, because some special hunts use set days. Glendo permits are required to hunt pheasants in Hunt Area 9 on each Friday, Saturday and Monday during the open season, which means Glendo hunters need a different plan on other days.
Always confirm the days your chosen area is open in Chapter 11 before you drive.
Tagging, Transporting and Possessing Pheasants in Wyoming
Pheasants do not require a harvest tag in Wyoming, but you must follow the possession limit and keep your license on you. Transport birds with enough of the carcass attached to identify the sex if you hunt in a rooster-only area.
Keep birds cool in warm fall weather, and label packages with your name, license number, and the date if you give any away. Possession limits include birds in storage, so count what you already have at home before a second trip.
Pheasant Hunting Season in Wyoming 2026-27: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Pheasant Season Open in Wyoming?
The general season generally opens November 1, 2026, and runs through December 31, 2026. The Springer permit hunt in Hunt Area 8 runs October 15 through October 31.
How Many Pheasants Can You Shoot Per Day?
Most areas allow three per day with nine in possession. Some areas use a lower limit of two daily and six in possession.
Are Hens Legal in Wyoming?
Most areas are rooster-only. Some stocked areas allow any pheasant during release periods, such as Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake WHMAs.
Do You Need a Special Pheasant Stamp?
Yes, on many WHMAs, walk-in areas, and state lands. Revenue from the stamp funds the state’s bird farms.
Where Can You Find Stocked Birds?
Springer WHMA, Table Mountain WHMA, Glendo State Park, and Sand Mesa and Ocean Lake WHMAs all receive releases. The Game and Fish pheasant release page lists locations and schedules.
For the exact rules in your hunt area, review the Chapter 11 regulation before opening day.