COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio will release more than 15,000 ring-necked pheasants at 27 Ohio public hunting areas this fall to provide additional hunting opportunities

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says pheasants will be released Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, prior to the small-game weekends for youth hunters.

Ohio's small game hunting season begins Friday, Nov. 1, with pheasant releases scheduled for Oct. 31 and the evening of Nov. 8. The final release of the year is set for the evening of Nov. 27.

Pheasant hunting season runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 5.

State officials say the daily bag limit is two male birds. No females can be killed.

Statewide pheasant hunting hours are sunrise to sunset.