Raising and Releasing Pheasants

The following information and links have been reposted from the Iowa DNR website to assist you in obtaining the information you need to raise and release pheasant in Iowa and refer to laws and regulations in Iowa only.  It is YOUR responsibility to know the laws in your state. We will do our best to keep up with changes, but please refer to the Iowa DNR website for the most up-to-date information or clarifications. Please let us know if you find something needs to be updated.

Game Breeder

Releasing pen-reared birds into the wild

  • Except for pheasants, Iowa Code 481A.47 prohibits the release of fish and game into the wild.

Iowa code allows landowners/tenants to release pen-reared pheasants on their own land. Iowa Code 481A.6A Pen-reared pheasants release by landowners and tenants.

As used in this section, “pen-reared pheasant” means a pheasant which originates from a captive population and which has been propagated and held by a hatchery.

Notwithstanding section 481A.60, an owner or tenant of land may obtain pen-reared pheasants from a hatchery approved by the department, and raise or release the pen-reared pheasants on the owner’s or tenant’s land. A person shall not relocate a pen-reared pheasant to any other land.

Approved hatcheries:

Malloy Gamebirds – State Center, Iowa (641) 485-9053

A person taking a pen-reared pheasant shall comply with all requirements provided in this chapter and chapter 483A.

484B.15 Pen-reared pheasants exception. This chapter does not apply to an owner or tenant of land raising or releasing pen-reared pheasants on the owner’s or tenant’s land as provided in section 481A.6A, provided that a person taking a pen-reared pheasant complies with all requirements provided in chapters 481A and 483A.