Youth in Clark County and beyond will have the opportunity to hunt pheasants this month thanks to an ongoing partnership between the Vancouver Wildlife League (VWL) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
On Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15, volunteers from VWL, with support from WDFW’s hunter education program, will host the annual youth pheasant hunt, which is aimed at youth up to 15 years old.
Gene Ritter, with the VWL, looks forward to the event every year, which dates back to at least 1982, he said.
Prior to the hunt, the VWL has coffee, hot chocolate and morning snacks available for hunters and their families. By the time they return, hot dogs and other snacks are prepared for an early lunch, Ritter said.
“This is something we always look forward to,” Ritter said. “It starts the fall hunting season off, and then it’s followed by the seniors hunt, and then we go right into the regular season. Youth always look forward to it, especially if they’ve never done it before.”
Last year, young hunters flocked to the Vancouver lowlands in chase of pheasants from Clark County and beyond to Kelso.
“We really like seeing those youngsters be able to get their first birds and some of them over the years have done really well,” Ritter said.
Advance registration is not required. Youth up to 15 can sign up for the day’s hunt by arriving at either location between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. A firearms safety discussion will take place before hunters head into the field, with hunting allowed only after 8 a.m. each day, according to a news release. Youth hunters without dogs will be paired with VWL volunteers who have hunting dogs. VWL will provide lunch for all youth hunters.
The event will be held at two locations on WDFW’s Shillapoo Wildlife Area near Vancouver:
• On LaFrambois Road near the Vancouver Lake boat launch site on the Vancouver Lake Unit
• On Lower River Road, past Frenchman’s Bar, near Caterpillar Island on the Shillapoo South Unit
According to a release by WDFW, hunters must abide by the following rules to participate:
• Hunters must wear 400 square inches of hunter orange or hunter pink.
• Non-toxic shot is required.
• Youth hunters must possess a western Washington pheasant hunting license. A small game license is not required.
• Hunting is allowed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
The bag limit is two pheasants of either sex per day.
Eye and ear protection are always recommended while hunting or shooting.
Pheasants for the hunt are raised by WDFW at the Bob Oke Game Farm in Centralia and released by VWL volunteers at various locations within the hunting areas, according to the press release. An experienced adult volunteer and, if necessary, a hunting dog will accompany all participants on the hunt, according to the release. Youth hunters can continue to hunt when the general season for pheasant opens.
In Washington, Sept. 14 and Sept. 15 are statewide youth-only hunting dates for pheasant and quail, the release stated. Youth hunters are defined as those under 16 years old with a valid youth hunting license. More information about youth-only and youth-mentor hunts is available online and on page 14 of the Game Bird and Small Game Regulations pamphlet.
Information on hunter education requirements can be found on WDFW’s Hunter Education webpage, wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/requirements. For tips on pheasant hunting, visit the pheasant hunting webpage, wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/requirements/upland-birds/pheasant.
