With pheasant season set to begin, the Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to release fewer pheasants for hunters this year.
Pheasant season starts Saturday for junior hunters before the season opens to hunters statewide on Oct. 21.
About 170,000 pheasants will be released this year, which is more than 30,000 fewer than were released last year. Since the Game Commission has not been approved to increase the cost of a hunting license in 18 years, the agency has been forced to cut costs and the pheasant release program could be further affected in the future.
The program cost the commission over $4 million last year leading to the closure of two of the four Game Commission-owned pheasant farms.
New this year, adult and senior general hunting license holders are required to also purchase a pheasant hunter permit this year for $26.90. Junior hunters do not need a permit to hunt pheasants.