March 15 is the deadline to apply for the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program and the Young Pheasant Release Program. The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) programs should interest any upland hunter who wants to keep the upland hunting tradition alive. The programs do not cost a penny though you will need the proper equipment and you will need to go through the application process, which is pretty painless. The DEC’s Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program makes day-old chicks available at no cost to participants who are able to provide a brooding facility, a covered outdoor rearing pen, and an adequate release site. Applicants who meet the program requirements will receive the day-old chicks in April, May, or June. As some of you know through your local rod and gun club pheasant programs, daily care is essential to the health of chicks, which seem to grow quicker than dandelions in your lawn during Spring. Once the chicks are at least eight weeks old, they must be released at publicly accessible sites approved in advance by the DEC. The Young Pheasant Release Program distributes young, seven- to 10-week-old pheasant free of charge to participants in June, July, and August. Summer months are ideal for releasing the young birds because of stable weather conditions, ample food, and exceptional cover, allowing them to evade predators. Each release site approved by the DEC is eligible to receive 40 young birds. A pen built by the applicant is used to gently release the birds into their new environment. Feed and water are provided for two weeks as the bird slowly acclimate to life in the wild. As with the chicks, all release sites must provide public pheasant hunting opportunities. If you want to get involved contact your nearest DEC regional office for applications and additional information. Sounds like a great project to invlove the kids and grandkids. A list of regional offices is available after the jump.