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    Pennsylvania Game Commission

    Sign up for a Mentored Pheasant Hunt

    Mentored Pheasant Hunts are designed to provide youth with a unique opportunity to gain experience hunting.

    Learn more about Pheasant Management
    Learn about Ring-necked pheasants

    Organized Mentored Pheasant Hunts

    2026 Mentored Pheasant Hunt Program

    Season - Statewide, Oct. 10-17, 2026. 

    The Pennsylvania Game Commission supplies over 15,000 pheasants for the junior pheasant hunt season every year. Pennsylvania's 2025-26 junior pheasant hunt season is open from Oct. 10-17 (2 daily, 6 in possession). This special season is open to junior hunters and all mentored hunters (regardless of age). A FREE Junior Pheasant Hunting Permit (available online and at license vendors) is required to participate in the pheasant season for all junior hunters.

    Mentored Pheasant Hunts are designed to provide any new hunter with a unique opportunity to gain experience hunting. Every year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission works with organizations across the state to sponsor instructional pheasant hunts for mentored permit holders or junior license holders. The Pennsylvania Game Commission helps support these hunts by providing pheasants to clubs who are hosting these events across the commonwealth.

    Any of the following may apply to host a mentored pheasant hunts if your hunt is open and available to the public and anyone who meets the criteria to participate.

    • Sportsmen’s Club who has an interest in helping achieve the mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
    • Any chapter or association of a Conservation Non-Governmental Organization in which promotes hunting for new hunters of all ages.
    • Federal or State Government Agencies who would like to promote hunting on their properties.
    • An organization which wishes to help promote recruitment, and retention of hunters in the commonwealth.
    • Other organizations or entities that are conservation adjacent. If you feel you do not directly all into one of the above categories and wish to host a hunt, please email mentoredhunting@pa.gov. 

    Note – priority for receiving live birds will be given to organization who host an event that encourages all new hunters (youth mentored permit holder, adult mentored permit holders and junior license holders) to participate

    Anyone hosting a hunt must allow any of the following hunters to participate in the hunt. Hunters participating in the Mentored Pheasant Hunt must have one of the following options:

    1. Anyone over the age of 16 years old who wishes to participate must obtain a Mentored Adult Hunting Permit and purchase the Pheasant hunting permit. The hunter and mentor must abide by all regulations included within the Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunting and Trapping Digest regarding mentored hunting. A summary of laws and regulations can be found in the most recent Hunting and Trapping Digest.
    2. Anyone 16 years of age and younger must obtain one of the two following permit or license options.
      1. The first option to participate is to obtain a junior hunting license which can be obtained after successfully completing a Hunter-Trapper Education course. The Hunter-Trapper Education course may be completed online or in person. A FREE Junior Pheasant Hunting Permit (available online at huntfish.pa.gov and at license vendors) is required to participate in the pheasant season for all junior hunters.        
      2. The second option to participate is to obtain a mentored hunting permit, given that the hunter and mentor abide by all regulations included within the Pennsylvania Game Commission Hunting and Trapping Digest regarding mentored hunting. A summary of laws and regulations can be found in the most recent digest.

    Interested participants can register for mentored pheasant hunts by clicking here.  Organizations interested in hosting an event can email mentoredhunting@pa.gov. ​

    To host a mentored pheasant hunt, please read the application packet and submit the application forms to mentoredhunting@pa.gov. If you have any issues or questions, please give us a call at 717-787-7015. ​​​ ​​​

    • Junior hunters and mentored permit holders under 17 need a FREE pheasant hunting permit.
    • Mentored Permit holder over the age of 17 must obtain a Pheasant Hunting permit.
    • Pheasant hunting is open statewide for the special season Oct. 10-18, 2026.
    • Male and female pheasants may be taken in all WMUs (2 daily, 6 possession)..
    • There is no open season for taking pheasants in Wild Pheasant Recovery Areas, except as authorized by executive order.