One pheasant rearing program will soon be flying in a different direction.

The Department of Environmental Conservation has been conducting its Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program since the early 1990s; the Young Pheasant Release Program began in 1992.

DEC decision makers have opted to continue the Day-Old program, but have chosen to end YPRP participation after this year.

A “Management Plan for Ring-Necked Pheasants in New York, 2010-20,” released this past week, announced a move to “terminate the Young Pheasant Release Program in 2011 and increase the adult pheasant production.”

That means kids and adults interested in raising 7-to 10-week-old pheasants will have to move on the YPRP this final year. The YPRP birds are delivered to rearing sites sometime during the summer for a two-week rearing period before they are released into the wild.

Emilio Rende, senior wildlife biologist at the Allegany office said, “Plans continue for the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program and this change will add 5,000 birds to the game farm stocking.”

People with pen-rearing equipment and an interest in either program have until March 15 to make applications for free shipments of bird stock. To apply in Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara, or Wyoming counties, write: NYSDEC, 182 East Union, Suite 3, Allegany, NY 14706-1328; or call 372-0645.

In Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yeats Counties, write: NYSDEC, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon, NY 14414.

Fur for auction

The Erie County Trappers Association has bidding tables ready at S&S Taxidermy and Archery Pro Shop in Springville for the annual state region fur auction Saturday. Check-in begins at 8 a. m. and bidding starts at 10 a. m. for fur lots of all sizes.

The Cattaraugus County fur auction Jan. 16 saw improved fur prices with lots of green furs hindering high bids. Muskrats were the top seller, passing $7 on many pelts.

The Genesee Valley Trappers Association auction Jan. 17 saw major jumps in prices from Dec. 13 sales. High bids were at or nearly doubled for beaver, coyote, and deer hides. Raccoon hides dropped from $21 to $16.50. The next association auction will be Feb. 21.

For more details on the Erie County auction, call 592-2404 or 377-2556.

A really big show

The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, billed as the largest outdoors-consumer event open to the public in North America, opens its doors at 10 a. m. Saturday for a nine-day show of people, products, and services keyed to all outdoors.

Set up in the expansive State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., the show features more than a thousand vendors of major manufacturers such as Cabela’s, Thompson/Center, Mathews, Parker, Hoyt, Yamaha, Swarovski, and many other big brand names.

The slate of seminar speakers represents the who’s who in hunting and fishing programming and production. Leading presenters include Jim Shockey, Michael Waddell, Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, Stan Potts, Chuck Adams, Mark Menendez, and many other national, regional and area experts discussing topics on fishing, hunting, dog training, raptors, cooking, photography and many other outdoors-related themes.

To check out the many exhibits and presentations, go to easternsportsshow.com and click “Show Information.”