16,500 Pheasants Set Aside for Youth Pheasant Hunt

I'll never forget a time in Oakton, VA; that my sister and I were just leaving a local establishment and these two fella's came up to us and started talking about the fact that they had some frozen pheasant in their truck and did we want some. Well, being country gals at heart, we said sure, why not. So they gave us a couple and we all left on our merry way. I took the frozen birds home and put them in the freezer. A couple months later, I decided to have a feast on them birds, left them thaw while I was at work, came home to start cooking them, only to discover that they were filled with what I believe you'd call buckshot. There were soooooo many little pellets in them birds, there was no way you could even begin to eat them. It was gross, that's for sure. So, this article brought a memory back to me, even if it were another bad eating memory lol Thank goodness there were no strings attached on those little gifts. *smile*

HARRISBURG - While the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners just gave approval to the 2006 youth pheasant hunt - Oct. 7-13 2006 - Carl G. Roe, agency executive director, noted that now is the time for hunting clubs interested in hosting a youth pheasant hunt to begin making plans. In addition to the 15,000 birds that the agency plans to release statewide prior to the opening of youth season, Roe has pledged to reinstate the set-aside of an extra 1,500 birds for clubs that host a youth pheasant hunt.

"The future of hunting is directly related to the continuing participation of young Pennsylvanians in our hunting seasons," Roe noted. "The goal is to make hunting a priority among all the other activities and recreational opportunities that vie for a teenager's time. It's truly a challenge for the Game Commission, as well as Pennsylvania's more than a million hunters.

"To maximize this opportunity for young hunters, and to ensure we pass along the ethics and ideals of our hunting heritage, the Game Commission and Pheasants Forever urge local clubs to consider hosting a youth pheasant hunt for the young people in their community."

Those clubs interested in hosting a youth pheasant hunt are encouraged to use the 26-page planning guide prepared by the Game Commission and the Pennsylvania State Chapter of Pheasants Forever. The booklet offers a step-by-step guide on how to develop an organized youth pheasant hunt, and includes: a sample timeline; suggested committees and assignments; general event planning considerations; and several sample forms and news releases. It also includes event evaluation guides so clubs and organizations may consider changes for future youth pheasant hunts.

The manual can be viewed on the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), by clicking on "Forms & Programs," and then selecting "Youth Pheasant Hunt Planning Guide." In addition to the planning guide, the upcoming 2006-07 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations will feature a listing of all locations that the Game Commission plans to stock for the youth pheasant hunt.

To participate in the youth pheasant hunt, youngsters must be 12 to 16 years of age, and must have successfully completed a Hunter-Trapper Education course. As required by law, an adult must accompany the young hunters. Participating hunters do not need to purchase a junior hunting license to take part in the youth pheasant hunt, but all participants must wear the mandatory 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on head, chest and back combined, visible from 360 degrees.

The 1,500 pheasants that the agency will provide for sportsmen's clubs sponsored youth pheasant hunts will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Roe noted that the set-aside for clubs was cut from last year's budget due to fiscal issues.

"While the agency's financial situation remains a concern, providing pheasants to clubs sponsoring youth pheasant hunts is a wise investment," Roe said.

To qualify, clubs and organizations must sign up before July 31 with the Game Commission to host a youth pheasant hunt. The only two stipulations to be eligible for clubs to receive Game Commission birds are that these hunts must have registration open to the public and must be held on public lands or private lands enrolled in one of the Game Commission's Cooperative Public Access Programs. Applications are available as part of the Youth Pheasant Hunting Planning Guide, or by going to the "Forms & Programs" section of the agency's homepage (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and clicking on "Youth Pheasant Hunt Application."
Additionally, to maximize potential participation, the Game Commission will post on its website all club-sponsored youth pheasant hunts.

"Holding concurrent youth seasons for squirrels and ring-necked pheasants will offer variety to youths who participate in these small game-hunting opportunities," Roe said. "The state's long-standing two-pheasant daily bag limit will apply to junior hunters participating in the season. In addition, depending on the area they are hunting, juniors will be required to comply with restrictions on hunting male or female pheasants."

Roe also noted that, on April 18, the Board of Game Commissioners gave preliminary approval to regulations establishing the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, which will enable youth under 12 years of age to hunt under the close supervisor of a mentor. To take effect next license year, the Board must give final approval to the package in June.

While pheasants will not be legal game as part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, the Board did identify as legal game for the 2006-07 license year the following species: squirrels, woodchucks (groundhogs) and the spring gobbler. Antlered deer will be included in the 2007-08 seasons. For more information on the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, please visit the Game Commission's website (www.pgc.state.pa.us) and click on "Release #048-06" in the "Newsroom" section.

Other recent Game Commission initiatives to promote youth hunting opportunities include an expanded youth squirrel hunt; a youth spring gobbler hunt; expanded youth waterfowl hunts; special antlerless deer hunts; and youth field day events. Also, as part of the license fee increase approved in 1998, the General Assembly created a junior combination license that packages regular license privileges with archery, flintlock and furtaking opportunities for $9, compared to $39 if the necessary licenses were purchased separately.

Pheasants Forever is a national non-profit habitat conservation organization with a system of hard working local chapter volunteers dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasants and other wildlife populations. Pheasants Forever emphasizes habitat improvement, public awareness and education, and land management policies that benefit private landowners and wildlife alike. For more information, visit its website at www.pheasantsforever.org

DOG TRAINING LIMITED TO BENEFIT YOUTH PHEASANT HUNT
Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe recently signed an executive order to temporarily stop dog training on State Game Lands from the Monday prior to the start of the youth pheasant season until the close of the youth pheasant season, which, for this coming season, translates to Oct. 2-13.

Roe stressed that this order does not, in any manner, prohibit dog handlers from using dogs as part of a youth pheasant hunt activity or for dog training activities to be conducted on any lands other than State Game Lands. He also noted that this order does not impact dog training activities statewide during the remainder of the year, including general small game seasons.
"The Game Commission and many sportsmen's clubs stock pheasants specifically to enhance youth pheasant hunting opportunities," Roe said. "The majority of these pheasants are stocked on State Game Lands across the Commonwealth.

"As our youth pheasant hunting opportunities are directly linked to and limited by the existence and availability of stocked pheasants, we are attempting to limit disturbances to those birds we stock just prior to and during the youth pheasant seasons."

Roe noted that the agency has become increasingly aware that dog training activities occurring on State Game Lands during the period just prior to and concurrent with the youth pheasant season are consistently causing stocked pheasants to scatter and disperse far away from designated release sites, where the birds are intended to temporarily remain for the duration of the youth pheasant season.

"Generally, the Game Commission's regulations permit dog training activities during any time of the calendar year," Roe said. "And, we try to promote dog training activities on State Game Lands, provided these activities do not conflict with legal hunting activities. However, we believe that we must take this limited and responsible step to protect the investment of sportsmen's dollars - in terms of agency employee's time and to provide the greatest opportunity to take the birds being stocked.

"We very much appreciate the understanding and cooperation of those involved in the dog training community."

Source:
Release #050-06