Pheasant training opportunity for mentored youth & women hunt

[Rick]

Inexperienced young people and women can apply for a chance to step into the field with an experienced pheasant hunter this fall during the mentored youth pheasant hunt and the first-ever women’s mentored pheasant hunt.

Co-sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Pheasants Forever, the hunts will occur Saturday, Oct. 23, at locations across much of the southern two-thirds of Minnesota.

“This great opportunity will teach rookie youths and women about hunting techniques, skills, safety and all about wildlife habitat,” said Mike Kurre, DNR mentoring program coordinator. “The adventure also will provide fond memories, new friends afield and a better appreciation of the outdoors.” Last year, about 150 youth and 250 volunteers participated in the hunts. A larger turnout is expected this year.

The hunts work like this: Experienced hunters from Pheasant Forever chapters throughout Minnesota are paired with inexperienced hunters and, in a youth’s case, their guardians. After scouting places to hunt and securing landowner permission when necessary, mentors will take participants into the field.

To be eligible to participate in the lottery for hunts, a youth must be 12-17 years old as of Oct. 23; have earned a valid firearms safety certificate; possess a small game license; and have a parent, guardian or adult authorized by a parent or guardian accompany them as a non-firearms carrying mentor all pre-hunt orientation activities as well as the hunt.

Small game licenses are free for youth younger than 16. Reduced-fee licenses are available for youth 16 and 17.

Women 18 and older do not need a parent or guardian to accompany them but will need a valid firearms safety certificate or an apprentice hunter validation certification, pheasant stamp and small game license.

All applicants must specify in which county they want to hunt, if they are willing to travel farther if their choice of county is not available and how far they are willing to travel.

Applications, which are due Wednesday, Sept. 8, are available online or by contacting the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367. Successful applicants will be notified via mail or e-mail by Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The winner’s notice will contain specific information about hunting license requirements, equipment and contact information of the hunt coordinator. Youth and women winners must contact their hunt coordinator after receiving their notice.

Landowners with pheasant-producing property interested in allowing youth to hunt on their land can help out by contacting Pheasants Forever’s Eran Sandquist at 763-242 1273 or Scott Roemhildt at 507-327-9785.

[jigging-matt]

Glad this got posted. This is a great opportunity for children, and now women to get out and hunt. I am one of the Youth Chairs for our local PF and we had a great time with this hunt last year. The problem is that some counties don't even get any kids putting in for the hunt. So if everyone can help to spread the word that would sure help.

[muc33]

I know one of the hunts will be guided by members of our PF Chapter here in Nobles County. Great numbers seen here so far.

[wdgold]

I have got 2 youth that are age elegible, both are my own, can you sign up more than one to be under my supervision.

[CodyDawg]

I think you can.

One general thought.....if your sons/daughters have had experience and are going to get experience, let this hunt be for those that do not have an opportunity. We have seen some cases where kids with a ton of opportunity are signing up and sometimes that can push out kids that dont have any opportunity.

[MINNKOTA]

This will be my daughters first year of pheasant hunting. I have not hunted MN in 15 years we live in the 7county metro. outsate Mn what county should I pick for the youth mentored hunt.

[CodyDawg]

There are some pretty strong PF chapters south of the metro. I dont know how active they are with this hunt, but I know they have good chapters down there. Sorry that is all I can help you with.

[SCHAAKATTACK]

Filled out an application for my son and hope he will be able to participate. Does anyone know what to expect? Good success with the new skills and getting the opportunity to shoot. I assume there may be some classroom to start the day. The reason I ask is that I am a non hunter and my son has the addiction. The two of us have been slowly getting involved in hunting and this would be his first pheasant hunt and would be good for the both of us to have a good experience.

[CodyDawg]

I doubt there will be any classroom time. What happens is that the local PF chapter gets your name and number. You also get theirs I think. Then you hook up with them to go on a hunt with an experienced hunter. If you need some instruction, I would be sure to contact them beforehand and explain your situation and that the child knows nothing about hunting pheasants and ask if you can come early and have them discuss how the day will go and how it works. Most of the guys would bend over backward to make it be a great day for you and help you as much as you need it.

If that doesnt work, I would be willing to give a tutorial over the phone some time.

[jigging-matt]

The youth/Womens mentored hunt has a lot of different componets to it. The packet from PF includes class time on gun safety and also a portion on how to hunt with dogs and dog handling. Each chapter runs their hunt a little differently. A lot depends on the experience level of the hunter(s) that get drawn for that county. The chapter that I am with ( I am a youth co-chair ) waits till we find out he we will have with us, then we contact them and get a feel for their experience, then tailor the day to go with that. Last year we only received one kid and he was really big into hunting, so we were able to have more field time and a smaller amount of "other" time.

[CodyDawg]

I just saw the list of how many applied in each county. Wow. 162 kids and 58 women applied across the state. Quite a few chapters have upwards of 10 kids! One chapter has 18 kids and 3 women!