October 17, 2002

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife's 2002 Pheasant Stocking Program will begin November 9 and continue through December 31 with a total release of 50,000 birds on designated wildlife management areas (WMAs) throughout the State. The Division's Quail Stocking Program will also begin on November 9 and continue through December 31 with a total of 11,000 birds released on the Greenwood Forest and Peaslee WMAs.

Hunters should note that the Fort Dix Military Base will not be stocked with pheasants this hunting season due to security concerns. As a result, these birds have been re-allocated to the Stafford Forge, Colliers Mills and Assunpink WMAs.

The Division reminds sportsmen and women that the pheasant and quail-stocking list is tentative and may change due to inclement weather. Also, individuals hunting for pheasant and quail on stocked WMAs must have a pheasant/quail stamp in possession in addition to the regular firearm hunting license. The cost for the stamp is $40 which provides over six weeks of hunting birds that are stocked three days each week on most of the 25 WMAs. This stocking regimen amounts to 16 stocking days at a cost of $2.50 per stocking day to the individual hunter. For $2.50 per day the stamp buyer gets a place to hunt that has been stocked with one of America's finest strains of game farm pheasants. In addition to this, the pheasant/quail stamp provides the opportunity to pursue 11,000 quail that are purchased and stocked on 17 days spread over two months.

Hunters concerned by crowding should schedule their hunts after lunchtime when most hunters have gone for the day or on off-days when birds are not stocked. Surveys show that opening time hunters on stocking days take only 50% of the birds that were stocked for that day. As a result, there should be enough birds to provide rewarding outings for afternoon hunters and those hunting non-stocking days.

Following is a list of WMAs to be stocked:

In the northern region, a total of 26,300 pheasants will be released on the Flatbrook, Whittingham, Walpack, Black River, Berkshire Valley, Pequest and Clinton WMAs for hunting on November 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30 and December 3, 5, 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area will be stocked with pheasants on November 9, 16, 23, 28, 30 and December 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31.

In the central region, a total of 11,850 pheasants will be stocked on the Colliers Mills, Howardsville, Manahawkin, Stafford Forge, Medford, Assunpink and Manasquan WMAs. The Colliers Mills and Assunpink WMAs will have birds for hunting on November 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30 and December 3, 5, 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31. The Howardsville, Manahawkin, Medford, Manasquan and Stafford Forge WMAs will have birds on November 9, 16, 23, 28, 30 and December 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31.

A total of 11,850 pheasants are scheduled to be stocked in the southern region on the Glassboro, Dix, Mad Horse, Millville, Nantuxent, Port Republic, Tuckahoe, Winslow and Heislerville WMAs. The Glassboro, Dix, Millville, Nantuxent, Port Republic and Tuckahoe WMAs will have birds on November 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23,26, 28, 30 and December 3, 5, 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31. Mad Horse, Winslow and Heislerville WMAs will have birds on November 9, 16, 23, 28, 30 and December 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31.

The 11,000 quail will be stocked evenly between the Greenwood Forest (5,500 birds) and Peaslee (5,500 birds) WMAs. Birds will be available for hunting on November 9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30 and December 3, 5, 7, 21, 24, 28 and 31.