Eastern Washington has experienced a decline in pheasant harvest over the past two decades, with habitat loss a leading factor in the decline. To address the habitat loss, WDFW initiated an aggressive habitat enhancement program, funded by the Legislature in 1997 as the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Fund.
Download the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Program Pamphlet. Or review the Game bird and small game hunting regulations.
About the fund
The Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Fund is a dedicated funding source, used solely for pheasant habitat enhancement on public and private lands and the purchase of rooster pheasants released on lands accessible to the public.
The Eastern Washington release sites are shown on the maps in this pamphlet. Rooster pheasants are released to supplement harvest.
We do not provide release dates because we want to minimize crowding at the release sites and promote hunter ethics. A small game license is required to hunt pheasants in Eastern Washington.
Habitat protection and enhancement continues to be WDFW's primary tool to maintain pheasant populations and hunting opportunity. WDFW invests up to $1 million each year on upland bird management and private lands access.
To protect other wildlife species including waterfowl and raptors, non-toxic shot is required for all upland bird, dove and band-tailed pigeon on all pheasant release sites statewide. Habitat protection and enhancement continues to be WDFW's primary tool to maintain pheasant populations and hunting opportunity over the long term. WDFW invests up to $1 million each year on upland bird management and private lands access. To protect other wildlife species including waterfowl and raptors, nontoxic shot is required for all upland bird, dove and band-tailed pigeon hunting on all pheasant release sites statewide.