The Allegany County Pheasant Program is an organization directed by a Board of Directors.

Our location is behind the Allegany County Public Safety Building. 

Who We Are

The Allegany County Pheasant Program is a non profit organization started in 2007 and has been raising pheasants from day old chicks  to adulthood since 2008. In 2010, the organization has increased our program to raising  2,000 pheasants to meet the increased demand.

Our plans include raising a greater number of pheasants than 2010.   Also, we intend to make available pheasants to area citizens and organizations for raising. Our expansion includes plans for our own brooding facility.

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From the Cuba Patriot 16 Oct 2019

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Article from the Cuba Patriot

1-14 October 2014

By Cynthia Dutton

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One of the most interesting groups in Allegany County is the Allegany County Pheasant Program, Inc. whose main purpose is to enhance pheasant hunting in Allegany County. It also provides the means for the Allegany County Working Inmate Program to raise and release over 1000 pheasants every year.  The wild pheasant population throughout the years has declined mainly because farming methods have changed and for instance, corn is now chopped, removing the entire stalk, which formerly was left when corn was “picked,” providing food and shelter for wild pheasants. There has also been an increase in predators.

 John Tucker, one of the nine Board members of the Allegany County Pheasant Program, Allegany County Sheriff Rick Whitney and Lt. Kevin M. Morsman, who heads up the Working Inmate Program at the Allegany County jail, recently described this program, the only one of its kind in western New York:

               Tucker says the program began in 2007 with the first pheasant release occurring in 2008. In the seven years that the program has existed, over 7000 pheasants have been raised and released in the County. The goals of the program are: inmates will provide the labor involved in raising the birds; the program shall have a positive impact on our County; students will be offered educational opportunities with the program and an independent board separate from the County will manage fundraising, select release sites and promote the program.

               On its inception, the inmates built an 80’ by 140’ flight pen on acreage behind the Jail and Public Safety Building south of Belmont. A flight pen is an enclosure surrounded by netting to prevent bird escape and offer protection from predators. The BOCES Summer Youth Program built a storage shed used for both the pheasant and garden program and the first 230 pheasants were raised and then released at Hanging Bog and elsewhere in the Town of New Hudson and Town of Wellsville. Pheasants are only released on land where hunting by the public is allowed.

The second year,  inmates built a second flight pen and BOCES students constructed a brood house to house day old chicks and the Pheasant Board and the WNY Safari Club donated over 700 birds which were raised by inmates and  released in 2009.

2010 brought further expansion. Currently, in 2014, the Allegany County Pheasant Program obtained day old chicks from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in two shipments of about 750 birds each, about a month apart in early spring. Up to 15 inmates care for the chicks in the brood house, and later in the flight pens. The dependence of the chicks on the inmates teaches those in the Working Inmate Program responsibility and pride, as well as practical life skills like caring for poultry – feeding, cleaning, checking for injury and disease -  and caring for and repairing buildings and grounds. The inmates also appreciate the chance to work outside. The current pheasants will be released on about six sites in the Towns of Caneadea, New Hudson, Cuba, West Almond and Independence in October. Pheasant season begins October 18 and continues through February. Youth hunting begins October 11.

No County tax dollars are used for the pheasant program.  While the chicks are given to the County by the DEC,  the Allegany County Pheasant Program Board is responsible for buying all pheasant food, which is the biggest expense of the program.  According to Tucker, the organization is in need of more members to help with fundraisers. Occasionally the group receives grant money but that is generally marked for equipment or capital expense. The cost of pellets and grains falls to the Pheasant Program who hold raffles, clam bakes and other fund raisers throughout the year. Another way the Board raises money is through Associate Memberships that are open to the public for $15.00 annually.  The organization has 501 ( C )3 status and is able to accept donations that are tax deductible for the donor. For further information, including the release sites, or if you are interested in joining this organization as an associate member,  look at their website:  www.alleganycountypheasantprogram.com, or call John Tucker directly at 585-610-8653.