Nebraska Releases Pheasants Ahead of Thanksgiving Hunts
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is stocking adult rooster pheasants on 17 wildlife management areas before the holiday weekend.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Hunting
Live Poll
Do you plan to go hunting or spend time outdoors this Thanksgiving weekend?
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission released adult rooster pheasants on 17 wildlife management areas leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Hunters can pursue pheasants, quail, and prairie grouse through January 31, 2027.
Why it matters
The releases are intended to enhance hunting opportunities over the extended holiday weekend and encourage families to spend time together in the field. For Nebraska hunters, the stocked sites offer a concentrated chance to pursue upland birds during the season.
Adult rooster pheasants were released on 17 wildlife management areas, with the pheasant, quail, and prairie grouse seasons running through January 31, 2027. Non-toxic shot is required at Kirkpatrick Basin North, Randall W. Schilling, and Wilkinson wildlife management areas.
The players
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is the state agency responsible for managing the state's wildlife, parks, and outdoor recreation resources.
The details
Pheasants are released on wildlife management areas leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend across Nebraska counties. Hunters purchase permits and applicable stamps at OutdoorNebraska.gov, where a map of the release sites is also available on the Upland Hunting page.
Timeline
Leading up to Thanksgiving 2026: adult rooster pheasants released on 17 wildlife management areas.
January 31, 2027: pheasant, quail, and prairie grouse seasons end.
Season Trajectory
The releases concentrate stocked birds on the commission's existing wildlife management area network during the Thanksgiving window rather than across the whole season. This places the stocking within the state's established upland hunting calendar, which runs through January 31, 2027.
Hunters should buy permits and applicable stamps at OutdoorNebraska.gov before heading out. Check the Upland Hunting page map to confirm the release sites and note that Kirkpatrick Basin North, Randall W. Schilling, and Wilkinson require non-toxic shot.
The takeaway
Hunters who plan around the Thanksgiving release window and the January 31, 2027 season end can make the most of Nebraska's upland birds. Checking the site map before travel helps match a hunt to a stocked area.
What happens next
Pheasant, quail, and prairie grouse seasons remain open through January 31, 2027, when they end.
Further reading
Explore more on Hunting for seasons, permits and wildlife management area guidance across the state.
More information
View the Upland Hunting page with pheasant release site map on the Nebraska Game and Parks website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Central Nebraska Today.
Live Poll
Do you plan to go hunting or spend time outdoors this Thanksgiving weekend?
