Upland hunters pursue pheasants for their gaudy colours, raucous flushes, and reputation as a culinary delight. Game farms provide opportunities, but there are several locations across the province where release programs offer quality hunting. Although the number of municipalities that operate release programs isn’t as great as it used to be, there are still many options.
1. Pelee Island
This is the granddaddy of Ontario pheasant hunts, consisting of three main hunts where 14,500 birds are released prior to the two-day main hunts. This is followed by four three-day cleanup hunts with no new birds released and winter hunts.
Hunters have access to most of the island’s 10,000 acres, with some restrictions.
Licence cost for the full hunt is $59.90 with a 10-bird limit. Clean-up hunt licences are $113 and have a five-bird limit.
Learn more: www.pelee.org/pheasant-hunts
2. Hullett Marsh
When it comes to bang for the buck, Hullett comes out on top. One-thousand birds are released throughout the season and there is no licence or permit fee.
Hullett Provincial Wildlife Management Area is 5,420 acres of uplands, wetlands, and forests in Huron County. It was developed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ducks Unlimited in the 1970s and is now run by the non-profit Friends of Hullett.
Although there is no fee, Friends of Hullett asks hunters to support the cost of the pheasant release by purchasing raffle tickets.
Learn more: www.hullettmarsh.com/hullett_rules_and_regs.html
3. Norfolk County
Norfolk County operates its pheasant release program in conjunction with the Long Point and Area Fish and Game Club, with 750 birds planted on nine pieces of public land throughout the season. Habitat varies from river bottoms with a mix of grasses and brush to grassed wetlands over more than 700 acres.
Licence costs are $30 for non-resident and $20 for residents.
