Adult pheasants will soon be released into the Canton, Louisville, and Macomb areas for the pheasant hunting season.

Approximately 30,000 adult pheasants will be released on public hunting lands throughout the state this season, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced. The pheasant hunting season begins on Oct. 1 in the North Country.

Some of these pheasants will be released locally. Canton area release points include the upper and lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area. Louisville release points include the Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area. Pheasants will also be released into the Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area, located in Macomb.

For the sixth consecutive year, junior hunters, aged 12 to 15 years old, have the opportunity to hunt pheasants the weekend prior to the regular season.

In the North Country the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Sept. 29 to 30. Canton’s upper and lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area has been designated as the pheasant release site for the youth hunting weekend in St. Lawrence County. All current pheasant rules and regulations remain in effect during the youth hunt. A 2011-12 hunting license is required to hunt during Sept., and a 2012-13 license is required starting Oct. 1.

Boundaries for pheasant hunting zones conform to Wildlife Management Units used for management of other upland wildlife. In addition to knowing these unit boundary descriptions, hunters should review the 2012-2013 New York Hunting & Trapping Guide for complete regulations and other important information. Hunters who plan to use private lands should ask permission from the landowner.

For more information, visit the DEC website: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html.