Montana’s Controversial Pheasant Stocking Program Moves Forward

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is moving forward with a controversial program to stock pen-raised pheasants on state-owned lands in an effort to recruit more hunters. FWP is now seeking final approval from the Fish and Wildlife Commission to fund the program through 2026, and the department hopes to get birds on the ground before the youth hunting season starts in September.

Outdoor Life reported on the inception of the state’s pheasant-planting program last June. Since then, FWP has doubled down on its position that the initiative will help with hunter recruitment and retention efforts by giving youth hunters more birds to shoot. The department has also contended that the release of farm-raised birds can serve to boost wild bird populations in the state.