NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A508
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the state's participation in artificial pheasant propagation
activities
PURPOSE:
This bill prohibits New York State's participation in any pheasant prop-
agation programs.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new
section 11-0532.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Every year the state-run Reynolds Game Farm hatches tens of thousands of
Ring-Necked Pheasants in order to increase recreational pheasant hunting
opportunities and to promote participation in shooting sports in New
York State. These birds are not native to New York; they are bred and
released specifically to be hunted at the Reynolds Game Farm. This arti-
ficial pheasant propagation program provides no conservational purpose,
and it causes unjustifiable suffering and death to animals. The NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation's Management Plan for Ring-
Necked Pheasants in New York State 20102020 stated that, "Unless land
use trends in New York reverse dramatically, the release of any pheas-
ants into New York habitats is unlikely to result in the establishment
or supplementation of breeding populations. If habitat conditions become
favorable again for pheasants they would likely increase without our
help." The Report further acknowledges that "very few released pheasants
survive to breed the following year."
These reared birds are unnaturally easy targets for hunters, making this
hunting activity ethically troublesome. If not shot, the birds will die
from exposure to severe weather conditions, predators or starvation. DEC
reports that its artificially propagated program provides approximately
70,000 pheasants (including adults and day old chicks). State money,
including from the Conservation Fund, should not be used for a program
that serves no conservational purpose whatsoever, and harms animals.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.1388 - Referred to Environmental Conservation
2019-20: A.600 -Referred to Environmental Conservation
2017-18: A.7908 - Referred to Environmental Conservation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on February 28, 2024.
