Pheasant stocking set to begin this week, licenses on sale

lschultz • October 15, 2021

Michigan’s pheasant opener kicks off Wednesday in the Lower Peninsula, and hunters will have the opportunity to harvest stocked birds at select state game areas throughout Southern Michigan.

In late 2018, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, working on behalf of the Michigan Pheasant Hunting Initiative (MPHI) and a MUCC member-passed resolution, was able to secure $260,000 general fund to operationalize a pheasant stocking initiative on state game areas.

The pilot program ran in 2019 and was canceled for 2020 due to budgetary restrictions during COVID. In 2020, MUCC was able to get a pheasant license passed that will fund the stocking initiative.

For the 2021 season, hunters in the Lower Peninsula 18 and over will be required to purchase a $25 pheasant license in order to pursue pheasants on public and Hunter Access Program lands.

The nine state game areas that will receive rooster pheasant stocking from opening week through the week of Nov. 14 include: St. John’s Marsh, Erie, Point Mouillee, Crow Island, Pinconning, Lapeer, Rose Lake, Cornish and Leidy Lake.

MUCC member and MPHI President Ken Dalton brought the 2017 resolution initiating the pheasant stocking program forward to MUCC.

“We saw a need to get more hunters afield and do our part to help with R3,” Dalton said. “This fall, Michigan hunters will be able to find rooster pheasants closer to home at state game areas and MPHI is excited to have initiated this first-of-its kind program.”

Alex Beachum donated $25,000 in memory of his mother, Kristine Beachum, to supplement the pheasant stocking costs in the first year before license revenues kick in and fund the program in the future.

To read the full release about Beachum’s donation, please click here.

“Just like my mom gave the sacred gift of time afield and the special camaraderie it brings to my dad and me, I want to give that same gift to other fellow Michiganders with a generous and highly symbolic donation of pheasants to be released for all to enjoy, in honor of the life and memory of Kristine Ann Beachum,” Beachum said.

Recent Posts

On the Ground: Brush Piles and Invasive Species at Denmark Township Mini State Game Area

By Olivia Triltsch • May 21, 2026
On Friday, May 15, 2026, high school students who are part of the Reese High Outdoors Club joined MUCC’s On the Ground Junior program and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at the Denmark Township Mini State Game Area. Students completed a wildlife habitat improvement project by clearing a grassland habitat of invasive woody growth maintained for pheasants. Using the cut vegetation from the area, students constructed several large brush piles throughout the site to benefit small mammals and other wildlife in the area. Maintaining open grassland habitat is important for supporting species that rely on early successional cover for cover or feeding. Due to suppression of natural disturbances, active management helps to control woody vegetation from gradually overtaking the areas and reducing habitat quality for species that rely on the grassland. The project area is near fields planted by the DNR to provide both habitat and food sources for wildlife, making these improvements part of a larger habitat management effort on the property. In total, students directly improved 10 acres of wildlife habitat through this project. Beyond the on-the-ground impact, the event also allowed students to try a hands-on conservation experience and the ability to contribute to habitat management and public land stewardship in Michigan. Projects like this continue to demonstrate the value of engaging the next generation in Michigan's outdoor heritage and wildlife conservation efforts.

On the Ground: Jack Pine Planting Day 2026

By Olivia Triltsch • May 7, 2026
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, a group of dedicated volunteers joined Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, Huron Pines, Saginaw Children’s Zoo, and MUCC's OTG program in planting approximately 4,800 jack pine saplings within the Grayling Forest Management Unit in Crawford County. Jack pines are a critical nesting habitat feature for the once-threatened Kirtland’s warbler. In total, volunteers directly impacted about 7 acres of land were prepared by the Michigan DNR for this planting to allow volunteers to maximize their efforts across the land. This is one of our annual events that is perfect for helpers of all ages and interests.

MUCC Announces Dissolution After Nearly 90 Years of Conservation Advocacy

May 4, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) announces its decision to dissolve after nearly 90 years of conservation advocacy, citing ongoing financial challenges and outlining next steps in an orderly wind-down process.
More Posts