Sep 22, 2023 By Dave Bates for The Observer-Reporter newsroom@observer-Reporter.Com 5 min read

Youth Pheasant Season

Archery season is just around the corner. Small game season will follow in short order.

If you are looking for a great opportunity to spend time afield with your young person this fall, consider the youth pheasant hunt program offered by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

First, what is youth pheasant hunt? Well, to start with, it is one of the best programs that the Game Commission has come up with in modern times. The youth hunt is an opportunity for youngsters to attend a stocked pheasant hunt on Pennsylvania Game Lands or a private club with adult supervision. The idea of the youth pheasant hunt is to eliminate competition with adult hunters and create a safe and fun environment for kids to pursue pheasant hunting. Think learning environment. Adults are not permitted to pull the trigger but are encouraged to take kids afield on a more structured basis.

Unlike deer hunting, pheasant hunting is active all the time. As a school teacher I can appreciate keeping kids on the move to stave off boredom. It’s great exercise, as well.

These youth hunts are held statewide from Saturday, Oct. 7 thru Saturday, Oct. 14 for junior hunters between the ages of 12 and 16 who have successfully completed a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course (HTE). Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult. A hunting license is not required but a free junior pheasant hunting permit is available online and at license vendors and is required to participate for all junior hunters. Hunters are required to wear the 250 square inches of blaze orange.

The following are some tips for making youth hunts safer and more enjoyable:

• Keep your finger off the trigger until your shotgun is on target.
• Make sure the safety is engaged until the bird takes flight and the shooter is ready to pull the trigger. The safety should not be disengaged as the shooter walks up on the bird.
• If several adults are accompanying a junior shooter, see that everyone remains behind the shooter in a collective group. Fanning out alongside the shooter creates a greater risk of a safety violation and can cause additional nervousness for young shooters.
• Make sure younger shooters are aware of their target and what is beyond. Do you know where your shot string is landing?
• Especially when hunting with dogs, discourage youngsters from shooting birds on the ground. Beyond the sporting/fair chase aspect, it can be downright dangerous to shoot a bird on the ground when a hunting dog is afoot. The last thing needed is to injure or kill a dog or human.
• When a pheasant erupts from cover, you have more time to shoot than you think. Let that pheasant rise to the level of about 10 feet off the ground – approximately the level of a basketball hoop. This is the best way to keep hunting dogs safe.
• Consider limiting your youngster to one round of ammo per bird. This will give pause to launching shot hither and yon and help the student to learn to take their time.
• Carry water and snacks along with extra shells. Bring along a thermos full of hot chocolate for after your time afield. And for heaven’s sake, don’t forget the doughnuts.
• Make sure kids are wearing shooting glasses to protect those young eyes.
• A proper fitting shotgun (length of pull) probably does more to assist young shooters in hitting their target than most other features. A short stock can be built up but too long is tougher to shorten.

Oftentimes Game Wardens will be on the Game Lands during these youth hunts. They ighty conduct field checks with youth hunters and their accompanying adults. These encounters can serve as teaching moments and allow kids to interact with law enforcement on a personal level. It helps that a youngster can see these game law enforcers as people and potential friends as well as valuable resources.

Ask around at your local sportsman’s club or stop by the Game Lands to check with folks who are bird doggers that might be interested in guiding for youth pheasant season. You’d be surprised at the number of hunters who are willing to break in a kid to the world of pointing and flushing dogs. Not only is it a chance to get their dogs on birds a week or two before the regular pheasant season, but it is also a great chance to help our next generation of Pennsylvania hunters.

Stocking locations are indicated on the PGC website, as well. Contact your local Game Warden if you have questions about particulars of the youth hunts. Wardens are always glad to lend a hand and are most interested in keeping things safe. There is more information available at the Pennsylvania Game Commission website and at mentoredhunting@pa.gov