CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department invites young hunters to pursue pheasants this fall with days and areas set aside specifically for youth.
In southeast Wyoming, the Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Yoder offers youth only days Oct. 24 and Nov. 1. Youth hunts will also take place Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 at Glendo State Park.
“Pheasant hunting is a great way to first try hunting,” said Scott Talbott Game and Fish Director. “It can be an incredible experience for a family to go out together in the fall. On these youth hunts we encourage parents or mentors to be with the young person, they are not allowed to hunt, but being there to answer questions and support their child can help introduce hunting.” For those in central Wyoming and in the Big Horn Basin, there are youth hunts on the Sand Mesa Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Riverton and the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Area near Lovell. The youth hunt day for these areas is Nov. 21. A description of lands where these hunts will take place is in the Upland Bird Regulations.
Those eligible for these hunts include any youth who has not turned 18 before Oct. 1, 2015. Resident youth under 14 do not need a bird license, but all hunters, regardless of age, must have the pheasant management permit to participate in these hunts. Wyoming does not have a minimum age for bird or small game hunting, but hunter education certification is required of youth or the Hunter Mentor Program may also be an option for those new hunters who have not yet take a hunter education course. Information on the Hunter Mentor Program is available on the Game and Fish website wgfd.wyo.gov.
For more information call Game and Fish regional offices or headquarters in Cheyenne at (307) 777-4600.