Utah · Ring-necked pheasant

Utah pheasant release schedule, fall 2026

DWR list · fall 2026Updated Oct. 15, 2026

Utah pheasant release dates and sites for fall 2026, from DWR's own list: 62 sites.

DWR doesn't publish per-site counts. Whole program: approximately 12,000 rooster pheasants.

Read the 2 caveats before you go

Rules and caveats

Pheasant releases

Open to: All hunters · Youth hunters
Whole program, whole season: approximately 12,000 rooster pheasants planned · DWR 2026 list

DWR doesn't publish release days

There is not a fixed schedule of when pheasants will be released, but birds are generally released for the season opener and weekends.

DWR

31 OCT – 05 NOV 2026Youth hunt
07 NOV – 06 DEC 2026General season

Other DWR rules

Anyone who purchases a Utah hunting or combination license can hunt released birds on public land at no additional cost.

DWR

The daily bag limit is 2 roosters and the total possession limit is 6 roosters.

DWR

You can shoot from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

DWR

We remind you that these conditions are considered "reckless endangerment" — a Class A misdemeanor — and it is illegal to shoot near DWR employees.

DWR

Check before you go

Unverified
DWR says each point on its release map marks a general release area, not the spot where birds are let go. Expect to walk from the point to find birds.
source
Inferred
DWR's release map lists these points only as "ULWP" (three add "Lincoln Beach" or "West Mtn Rd"). The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission uses ULWP for its Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, "located in Utah County southwest of Provo," and every point is near the south end of Utah Lake, so this page names them that way. The point numbers are DWR's. Applies to: Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 6, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 7, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 8, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 12, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 58, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 59, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 61, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 62, Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, Lincoln Beach (point 57), Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, Lincoln Beach (point 60), Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, West Mtn Rd.
source

Every site

62 sites in DWR's order, by area. A permit tag marks a date or site that is permit-only; “Permit days” links to DWR's rule.

Release dates per site · DWR 2026 list
Site	Map, links & land
Northern Region
Bear River Land Conservancy/BR Access WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.918495, -111.901617
Bud Phelps WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.726296, -111.932139
Farmington BayNot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.932581, -111.946604Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area18,000 acreswalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, coots)Property page
Harold S. Crane WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.335965, -112.130282Harold S. Crane Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, geese, snipe, coots, tundra swan)Property page
Jensen Acquisition - North Public Shooting Grounds	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.622695, -112.289764
Nature Conservancy	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.037642, -112.008536
Ogden Bay WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.197388, -112.173197Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, geese, snipe, coots, tundra swan)Some WMAs are closed to the general public each year for sponsored, organized youth and beginner pheasant hunts. This year those areas are the Gordon Creek WMA (upper fields) on Oct. 31; and the Annabella, Pahvant and Pine Canyon WMAs, and a portion of the Ogden Bay WMA on Nov. 14.Property page
Public Shooting Grounds	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.577766, -112.306361Public Shooting Grounds Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, geese, snipe, coots, tundra swan)Property page
RChristensen WIA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.913149, -112.19928
Sagmore Farms WIANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.59388, -111.840472
Salt Creek WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps41.653741, -112.245249Salt Creek Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, geese, snipe, coots, tundra swan; cinnamon teal named specifically)Property page
Central Region
BLM	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.144315, -111.745455
Burraston Ponds WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.795256, -111.869924
Fountain Green WMANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.616559, -111.614099
KD Bass Walk in AccessNot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.91377, -111.887588
Manti Meadows	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.249092, -111.663064Manti Meadows Wildlife Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, geese, tundra swans)Property page
Mill RaceNot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.200763, -111.655038
Nephi WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.755897, -111.884972
Pine Canyon WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.553263, -112.235605Some WMAs are closed to the general public each year for sponsored, organized youth and beginner pheasant hunts. This year those areas are the Gordon Creek WMA (upper fields) on Oct. 31; and the Annabella, Pahvant and Pine Canyon WMAs, and a portion of the Ogden Bay WMA on Nov. 14.
Powell Slough WMANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.272361, -111.737815Powell Slough Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, geese, tundra swans)Property page
Santaquin WMANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.936739, -111.80056
Timpie WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.754687, -112.635707Timpie Springs Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, geese, snipe, coots, tundra swan)Property page
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 6	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.003924, -111.859796
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 7Not released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.008, -111.909577
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 8	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.962886, -111.87988
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 12	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.119887, -111.773714
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 58	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.977812, -111.892322
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 59	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.953497, -111.889414
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 61	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.118205, -111.789453
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, release point 62Not released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.141649, -111.759885
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, Lincoln Beach (point 57)	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.138276, -111.803291
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, Lincoln Beach (point 60)	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.124563, -111.804206
Utah Lake Wetland Preserve, West Mtn Rd	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.106871, -111.794822
Wallsburg WMANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.417581, -111.459337
Walt Fitzgerald WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.186945, -112.413727
Northeastern Region
Browns Park WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.888859, -109.146368
Kevin Conway WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.182436, -110.035505
Little Montes Creek WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.347581, -109.929142
Pariette Wetlands BLMNot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.03615, -109.773329
Starvation State Park, Above Reservoir	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.156329, -110.544603
Starvation State Park, below dam	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.186498, -110.438774
Stewart Lake WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps40.355953, -109.350021Stewart Lake Waterfowl Management Areawalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, geese, tundra swans)Property page
Southeastern Region
Desert Lake WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.37686, -110.798093
Gordon Creek WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.64629, -110.98309Public land:15,600 acresunknownAlso hunted here: Wild turkeyProperty page
Gordon Creek WMA - Gordon CreekNot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.65106, -110.9531Gordon Creek Wildlife Management Area15,600 acresunknownAlso hunted here: Wild turkeyProperty page
Gordon Creek WMA - Upper Fields	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.66584, -111.008851Gordon Creek Wildlife Management Area15,600 acresunknownAlso hunted here: Wild turkeySome WMAs are closed to the general public each year for sponsored, organized youth and beginner pheasant hunts. This year those areas are the Gordon Creek WMA (upper fields) on Oct. 31; and the Annabella, Pahvant and Pine Canyon WMAs, and a portion of the Ogden Bay WMA on Nov. 14.Property page
Huntington WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.358612, -110.967223
Lower San Rafael WMA - Frenchman's	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.783285, -110.337541
Upper San Rafael WMA - Fuller BottomNot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.117444, -110.856334Upper San Rafael River WMA (Fuller Bottom unit)walk-in accessAlso hunted here: Rio Grande turkey, Quail (unspecified), Mule deer, PronghornProperty page
Southern Region
Annabella WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.718217, -112.076333Some WMAs are closed to the general public each year for sponsored, organized youth and beginner pheasant hunts. This year those areas are the Gordon Creek WMA (upper fields) on Oct. 31; and the Annabella, Pahvant and Pine Canyon WMAs, and a portion of the Ogden Bay WMA on Nov. 14.
Bicknell WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.302451, -111.53383
Clear Lake	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.11583, -112.628395Clear Lake Waterfowl Management Area6,150 acreswalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl (ducks, mergansers, geese, tundra swans)Property page
Kingston Cyn WMANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.192816, -112.113926
Kingston Cyn WMANot released in: Youth hunt (Oct. 31–Nov. 5).	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.181684, -112.082427
Pahvant upland area	Map, links & land facts Open in maps39.062802, -112.38704Some WMAs are closed to the general public each year for sponsored, organized youth and beginner pheasant hunts. This year those areas are the Gordon Creek WMA (upper fields) on Oct. 31; and the Annabella, Pahvant and Pine Canyon WMAs, and a portion of the Ogden Bay WMA on Nov. 14.
Quichapa Lake	Map, links & land facts Open in maps37.63519, -113.201573
Quichapa Lake	Map, links & land facts Open in maps37.622765, -113.197692
Redmond WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.973593, -111.881626Public land:walk-in accessAlso hunted here: Waterfowl, Mule deerProperty page
Richfield WMA north of Hwy	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.775184, -112.031357
Richfield WMA South of Hwy 119	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.76528, -112.035134
RockyFord WIA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.213657, -112.877819
West Bicknell Bottoms WMA	Map, links & land facts Open in maps38.288134, -111.563609Bicknell Bottoms WMA640 acreswalk-in accessAlso hunted here: Canada goose, Mallard, Green-winged teal, Cinnamon teal, Northern pintail, Northern shoveler, Gadwall, American wigeon, American coot, Mule deer, ElkProperty page

Agency sources

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources