Program Takes Youths on Pheasant Hunt

Earlier this year 16 youths participated in a youth hunt for pheasants. About half were from the Youth Hunter Program and the rest from the Eagle and Star area. Twelve young hunters returned with birds, with all participants getting shots at the wily ringnecks. The morning started with a welcome from local Conservation Officer Rob Brazie who organized the event. This was followed by a safety talk from retired Fish and Game employee Walt Bodie. Next, Jeff Smith, owner of Seven Summits Game Ranch, gave a hands-on demonstration of "zones of fire" and safe gun tactics while hunting. The dog handlers stocked pheasants while the youth shot clay pigeons under the guidance of "Coach" Charlie Henry and Walt Bodie. After breaking a few clays, the kids paired up for their hunt. Dog handlers talked about their dogs, what to expect, and hunter/dog safety. "Make sure you see blue sky," was repeated again and again to make sure there was a safe distance between the bird and the dog before taking the shot. The hunt was part of a youth hunter program within the Police Athletic League system started several years ago by Fish and Game Conservation Officer Rob Brazie and Mike Perkins of the Boise Police Department. They focused on children from single-parent homes or youths who had an interest, but whose parents didn't hunt. The children had to commit to attending monthly meetings, maintaining passing grades at school and having a good attitude at home. They got training in hunter education, gun safety, rifle and shotgun shooting, hunting tactics and camping skills. The youth hunt began as an idea to take these youths on a quality pheasant hunt. They also screened mentors for the program, looking for adults who had a strong hunting background and good ethics. Most of the mentors have been with the program since the beginning. This year, Smith again donated the use of his hunting facility north of Eagle. The National Wild Turkey Federation's "JAKES" program and Boise Police Athletic League combined funds to purchase birds for the hunt. Albertsons in Eagle provided lunches, and the dog handlers were local conservation officers, police officers and local community leaders, including former Gov. Cecil Andrus. After lunch photos were taken and the kids headed home with the fruits of the hunt. But the real treasure was not the birds in their vests, but the memories of a crisp winter morning when they got to share the great tradition of the hunt.