Clubs Sign Up to Host Junior Pheasant Hunts; Junior Hunting Seasons Just Around the Corner

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today offered his praise to the 24 sportsmen's clubs throughout Pennsylvania who signed up to host junior pheasant hunts.  The clubs will share in about 1,800 pheasants the agency is providing for junior pheasant hunts, which all will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9.

"While the agency's financial situation remains a concern, providing pheasants to clubs sponsoring junior pheasant hunts is a wise investment," Roe said.  "The only two stipulations for clubs to be eligible to receive Game Commission birds are that these hunts must have registration open to the public and must be held on public lands or private lands enrolled in one of the Game Commission's Cooperative Public Access Programs.  

"The state's long-standing two-pheasant daily bag limit will apply to junior hunters participating in the season.  In addition, depending on the area they are hunting, juniors will be required to comply with restrictions on hunting male or female pheasants."

Eligible juniors must be between 12 and 16 years of age, and have successfully completed a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course.  There is no requirement that participating juniors purchase a license, but they must wear the necessary orange and be accompanied as required by law.  

Roe noted that the junior pheasant hunt is not part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program for those hunters under the age of 12, which does include groundhog, squirrel, coyotes, spring gobbler and antlered deer. (For more information on the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, please see page 15 of the 2010-11 Digest.)

The junior pheasant season runs from Saturday, Oct. 9, through Saturday, Oct. 16.  The season also takes advantage of many schools having off for the Columbus Day holiday.  In addition to the pheasants being provided to clubs hosting a junior pheasant hunt, the Game Commission will stock 15,000 pheasants for the junior pheasant season on various sites throughout Pennsylvania on Friday, Oct. 8. For more information, including a listing of general stocking locations for the junior pheasant season, see pages 25-27 of the 2010-11 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is provided to each license buyer, or go to the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), put your cursor over "Hunt/Trap" in the menu bar at the top of the page, click on "Hunting," click on "Pheasant" in the "Small Game" listing and then look under the "Junior Youth Pheasant Hunt" category.

Following is a county-by-county listing of the clubs hosting junior pheasant hunts, as well as contact information to enroll junior hunters:

Allegheny:

Bull Creek Rod & Gun Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club in Tarentum for 30 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Donald Lang Jr. at 724-226-9383 or e-mail [email protected].

Armstrong:

Pine Creek Sportsmen's Club will host its junior pheasant hunt on Bassinger Farm near Templeton for 20 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 4. Contact William Bassinger Jr. at 724-548-7746.

Apollo Spring Church Sportsmen's Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club for 30 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Rocco Ali at 724-478-4303, or Dan Shaffer at 724-681-2834.

Beaver:

Beaver County Sportsmen's Conservation League will host its junior pheasant hunt at Midland Sportsmen's Club for 50 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Rich Kerlin at 724-378-8345 or e-mail [email protected].

Bedford:

Bedford County Sportsman's Club will host its junior pheasant hunt in Centerville for 40 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 14. Contact Chad Kendall at 814-847-2558 or e-mail [email protected].

Bedford-Fulton Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 97 for 30 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Jeff Green at 814-652-6796 or e-mail [email protected].

Berks:

Bally Sportsman's Association will hold it's junior pheasant hunt at the club for 25 juniors.   The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Bruce Moll at 610-845-0224.

Centre:

3 Point Sportsman Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the reclaimed strip mine between Clarence and Orviston for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Steven Demyan at 814-387-6779 or e-mail [email protected].

Clearfield:

Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited will host its junior pheasant hunt at the "Big A" hunting lodge near Luthersburg for 25 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Laura Johnson at 814-371-4856 or 814-590-5935 or e-mail [email protected].

Columbia:

Central Susquehanna Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 226 in Millville for 50 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Jack Kile at 570-443-7618 or e-mail [email protected].

Elk:

Pheasants Forever Chapter 630 will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 44 near Brandy Camp for 35 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Leon Blashock at 814-885-8950 or e-mail [email protected].

Lancaster:

Lititz Sportsmen's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at Speedwell Forge Lake near Lititz for 25-28 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Phil McCloud at 717-626-5884.

Luzerne:

Northeast PA Chapter of Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 119 near Bear Creek for 40 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 7.  Contact Corey Wiesel at 570-282-6346 or 570-766-8469 or e-mail [email protected].

Pike:

Promisedland Sportsman's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the association on Route 390 for 50 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 1. Contact Craig Fischer at 570-676-5674 or e-mail [email protected].

Schuylkill:

Gordon Game & Fish Protective Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at "The Barn," near Gordon, for 25 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact John Towey at 570-875-4672 or 570-205-2682 or e-mail [email protected].

Warren:

Kalbfus Rod & Gun Club will host its junior pheasant hunt in Lander for 25 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 11.  Contact Chuck Travis at 814-726-1913, or Mark Zaffino at 814-723-1150 or e-mail [email protected].

Washington:

McDonald Sportsmen will host its junior pheasant hunt in McDonald for 30 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Bernie Dhans at 724-288-5092.

Westmoreland:

NWTF Local Chapter 1 will host its junior pheasant hunt at Bushy Run in Mt. Pleasant for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Rod Ansel at 724-244-1120, Sam Truxel at 724-244-7905, or Gill Shaffer 724-454-5111 or e-mail [email protected].

Rostraver Sportsman & Conservation Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club in Belle Vernon for 30 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 13.  Contact Diane Hickman at 724-872-5783, or John Spina at 724-929-6533, or e-mail [email protected].

Youngwood Sportsmen's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club in Youngwood for 25 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Carl Rossman at 724-309-3275 or e-mail [email protected].

Laurel Highlands Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Kingston Veterans & Sportsmen Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the Kingston Veterans & Sportsmen Club in Latrobe for 50 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Kevin Adams at 724-423-8445 or e-mail [email protected].

Law Enforcement Officers of Westmoreland County will host its junior pheasant hunt at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant for up to 60 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 10.  Contact Jerry Trainer at 724-493-9686 or e-mail [email protected].

Little Sewickley Sportsman Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at "The Old Hunt Farm" in Lycipus for 50 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 13. Contact Jay Bossart at 724-423-6714.

York:

Starview Sportsmen's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 243 in Franklintown for 12 juniors.  The registration deadline is Sept. 5.  Contact Michael Heindel at 717-968-8912 or e-mail [email protected].

JUNIOR HUNTING SEASONS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

In addition to the upcoming junior pheasant season, which will be held Oct. 9-16, the Pennsylvania Game Commission has established other special seasons for those 12 to 16 years of age, who can hunt either with or without a junior hunting license.

Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director, noted that the newest junior season to the agency's line up is the junior rabbit season, which will run from Oct. 9-16, and run concurrent with the junior pheasant season.

"As pheasants and rabbits inhabit similar habitat and can both be pursued using bird or rabbit hunting dogs, running these two seasons together broadens the opportunity and excitement for younger hunters," Roe said.  "Experienced hunters with dogs are encouraged to pass along our state's hunting heritage by serving as mentors for junior hunters.  In fact, the Game Commission has published a new planning guide to assist individual hunters or conservation organizations to host guided hunts for eligible junior hunters."

To view a copy of the new manual, go to the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on "Education" in the menu bar at the top of the homepage, select "Special Hunts" in the "Special Events and Programs," and then choose "Youth Hunt Planning Guide" in the "Special Hunt Guides."

Other junior-only seasons in which participating youth are not required to first obtain a license are for squirrel (Oct. 9-15) and waterfowl (Sept. 18).  While they are not required to purchase a license, participating youth must first pass a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course.

Junior-only seasons in which participating youth must pass a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course and obtain the required licenses are: antlerless deer (Oct. 21-23) and spring gobbler day (April 23).

Roe also noted that junior license holders' antler restrictions require that a legal buck must have one antler of more than three inches in length or one antler with at least two points.

Note to Editors: If you would like to receive Game Commission news releases via e-mail, please send a note with your name, address, telephone number and the name of the organization you represent to: [email protected].

SOURCE Pennsylvania Game Commission