In its third year, the program continues to grow as the number of birds released and the number of sites with releases continues to increase. In 2023, nearly 12,000 birds will be released on wildlife management areas, fishing access sites, and some school trust lands around the state.
The purpose of the program is to get new hunters out in the field and have success early to encourage future hunting and participation in conservation around the state. In Montana, like other states, fish and wildlife conservation is funded primarily through license dollars. Hunting and fishing is an active way to support wildlife management, habitat protection, and conservation efforts.
Hunter Feedback
This year Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking feedback from upland game bird hunters on our Roosters for Recruitment program. Your feedback will help us continue to evaluate and improve the program.
The following information will be updated during the fall as pheasant releases happen around the state.
Sept, 17-23: 64 birds
Oct. 1-7: 128 birds
Oct 22-28: 71 birds
Nov. 5-11: 128 birds
Total for season: 391
Foys Bend FCA - (by reservation only)
Sept, 17-23: 62 birds
Oct. 1-7: 96 birds
Oct 22-28: 48 birds
Nov. 5-11: 80 birds
Total for season: 286
Sept, 17-23: 126 birds
Oct. 1-7: 345 birds
Oct. 8-14: 327 birds
Oct. 15-21: 319 birds
Total for season: 1117
Sept, 17-23: 64 birds
Oct. 1-7: 96 birds
Oct. 8-14: 49 birds
Total for season: 209
Nov. 5-11: 48 birds
Nov. 12-18: 40 birds
Total for season: 88
Nov. 5-11: 40 birds
Nov. 12-18: 40 birds
Total for season: 80
Nov. 5-11: 72 birds
Total for season: 72
Sept, 17-23: 206 birds
Oct. 1-7: 400 birds
Oct. 15-21: 95 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 304 birds
Total for season: 1005
Arod Lakes DNRC
Sept, 17-23: 72 birds
Oct. 1-7: 114 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 96 birds
Total for season: 282
Bullhead Ranch DNRC
Sept, 17-23: 77 birds
Oct. 1-7: 198 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 96 birds
Total for season: 371
Sept, 17-23: 82 birds
Oct. 1-7: 224 birds
Oct. 8-14: 103 birds
Oct. 15-21: 225 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 161 birds
Nov. 5-11: 146 birds
Nov. 12-18: 246 birds
Total for season: 1173
Sept, 17-23: 141 birds
Oct. 1-7: 288 birds
Oct. 8-14: 124 birds
Oct. 15-21: 200 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 230 birds
Nov. 5-11: 132 birds
Nov. 12-18: 158 birds
Total for season: 1267
Clark's Fork of Yellowstone FAS
Sept, 17-23: 61 birds
Oct. 1-7: 80 birds
Oct. 8-14: 95 birds
Oct. 15-21: 125 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 96 birds
Nov. 5-11: 99 birds
Nov. 12-18: 96 birds
Total for season: 628
Sept, 17-23: 74 birds
Oct. 1-7: 96 birds
Oct. 8-14: 112 birds
Oct. 15-21: 120 birds
Total for season: 402
Oct. 1-7: 192 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 160 birds
Total for season: 344
Oct. 1-7: 96 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 96 birds
Nov. 12-18: 96 birds
Total for season: 288
Sept, 17-23: 104 birds
Oct. 8-14: 191 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 144 birds
Nov. 12-18: 238 birds
Total for season: 677
Oct. 8-14: 44 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 96 birds
Nov. 12-18: 50 birds
Total for season: 190
Sept, 17-23: 46 birds
Oct. 8-14: 96 birds
Total for season: 142
Sept, 17-23: 96 birds
Oct. 8-14: 89 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 94 birds
Total for season: 279
Oct. 8-14: 48 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 48 birds
Total for season: 96
Oct. 8-14: 95 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 72 birds
Total for season: 167
Sept, 17-23: 85 birds
Oct. 8-14: 150 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 144 birds
Nov. 5-11: 127 birds
Nov. 12-18: 175 birds
Total for season: 681
Sept, 17-23: 48 birds
Oct. 8-14: 50 birds
Oct. 29-Nov. 4: 80 birds
Nov. 5-11: 63 birds
Nov. 12-18: 47 birds
Total for season: 288