Ohio pheasant release schedule, fall 2026

ODNR's 2026 sources differ on Killdeer Plains, Pleasant Valley and Salt Fork. The regulations digest says they offer both permit and open hunts; ODNR's release page puts their pheasant fields under the Thursday to Saturday permit rule. Check with ODNR before hunting them on a permit day. Applies to: Killdeer Plains, Pleasant Valley, Salt Fork.

• Killdeer Plains, Pleasant Valley, and Salt Fork wildlife areas offer both controlled access pheasant hunts and public hunts. source
• Select pheasant hunting fields on ... Killdeer Plains ... Pleasant Valley, Salt Fork ... require a controlled access permit on all Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 source

ODNR's release page lists Urbana, Mosquito Creek and Coldwater Creek as permit-only for pheasant, but the regulations digest leaves them off its permit list. Treat them as permit-only unless ODNR says otherwise. Applies to: Urbana, Mosquito Creek, Coldwater Creek.

• Select pheasant hunting fields on Caesar Creek, East Fork, Fallsville South, Funk Bottoms, Killbuck Marsh, Kokosing, Parkersburg, Pater, Pickerel Creek, Shreve Lake, Tranquility, and Wolf Creek wildlife areas, as well as Hancock County Wildlife Area 5 and Wood County Wildlife Area 5, require a controlled access permit source
• pheasant hunting is open only to hunters with a controlled access permit at Urbana Wildlife Area, Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area, and Coldwater Creek Nature Corridor. source

Numbers or locations may be subject to change depending on weather and other unforeseen conditions.

ODNR's permit rule names the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Day rather than dates. In 2026 those fall on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26. Applies to: Kokosing Lake, Hancock County 5, Killdeer Plains, Parkersburg, Pickerel Creek, Wood County 5, Funk Bottoms, Killbuck Marsh, Shreve Lake, Pleasant Valley, Salt Fork, Wolf Creek, Caesar Creek, East Fork, Fallsville South, Pater, Tranquility.