Special Youth Pheasant Hunt Set For First Weekend Of October

IDAHO FALLS - Thanks to the caprice of the calendar, young people will get another special opportunity to try their hand at another type of bird hunting and benefit from the advise of adult sportsmen. Last weekend was the statewide youth waterfowl hunt, this weekend marks the annual youth pheasant hunt. While the youth hunt regulations apply statewide, young people are likely to have the best success at select IDFG operated wildlife management areas (WMA), where pen-raised pheasants have been purchased from private game farms for release. In the Upper Snake Region, a total of 50 birds have been ordered for release at Market Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Roberts, Idaho. Because regulations specify that the hunt cannot start until noon, the birds will not be released until just prior. The hunt is free, but youths must still have valid hunting licenses in possession. Fortunately, the normally obligatory WMA pheasant permit has been waived for the duration of this special hunt. A sponsor who is at least 18 years of age must also be willing to accompany the youth throughout the hunt. Unlike the youth waterfowl hunt, the accompanying adult is not required to have a hunting license. Neither are they allowed to be hunting for pheasants, their purpose is to help guide the youth through a safe and hopefully successful first upland game experience. To help insure a positive first outing, a special area at Market Lake WMA will be set aside for this youth hunt and will be stocked with the pen-raised pheasants. Only participants of the youth hunts and their guardians will be allowed in the area for the duration of the special season. The special youth hunt in the southern half of the state starts at noon on Saturday, October 4 and runs until one-half hour after sunset that day. It resumes one-half hour before sunset on Sunday, and runs until one-half hour after sunset. The season then closes until the start of the regular season at noon on Saturday, October 18. Normal bag and possession limits are now in place for this hunt. The daily bag limit is 3 cocks; possession limit after the first day of the season is 6 cocks. No harvest of female pheasants is allowed. The new upland game regulations booklets are now available free of charge at any IDFG license vendor, IDFG regional office, or at IDFG's website: www2.state.id.us/fishgame/common/regulations/ug/ug.htm