Ring-necked pheasants are currently the only species of upland game birds for which private release is authorized in the state of Montana. A permit to release ring-necks is issued through the department and allows for the release of a maximum of 200 ring-necked pheasants a year on land either owned by the applicant or land on which the applicant has written permission from the landowner to release the birds. Ring-necked pheasants may only be released from March 1 until September 15. Once released, the birds are considered wild birds and may only be harvested according to the hunting regulations, bag limits, and season limitations established by the department.
Applications for a permit to release ring-necked pheasants are submitted to the FWP regional office where release is intended. The number of birds intended for release, the location (township, range, section) of the release, and the date the release is intended must be indicated on the permit application. If approved, a permit number is given to the application authorizing the release of the birds. That permit number allows the holder of the permit to lawfully purchase ring-necked pheasants from a licensed game bird farm in Montana or to have the birds shipped to the permit holder from out of state. If birds are shipped into Montana from out of state, the shipper must obtain a health certificate and an import permit for the shipment of birds from the Montana Department of Livestock (406-444-2976). In addition, all birds shipped into Montana must be from National Poultry Improvement Program approved sources.
