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

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today offered his praise to the 23 sportsmen's clubs throughout Pennsylvania who signed up to host junior pheasant hunts.  The clubs will share about 1,800 pheasants the agency is providing for junior pheasant hunts, which all will be held on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Last year, 24 clubs signed up to host junior pheasant hunts.

"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 Hunter Access Program.  

"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 in which 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 the junior pheasant hunt is not part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program for those hunters under the age of 12, which allows mentored youth to hunt for groundhog, squirrel, coyotes, spring gobbler and antlered and antlerless deer. (For more information on the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, please see page 15 of the 2011-12 Pennsylvania Hunting & Trapping Digest, which is provided to each license buyer.)

The junior pheasant season runs from Saturday, Oct. 8, through Saturday, Oct. 14.  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. 7.

For more information, including a listing of general stocking locations for the junior pheasant season, see pages 25-27 of the Digest, 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:
Bullcreek Rod and Gun Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club near Tarentum for 30 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Donald Lang at 724-889-6948 or email [email protected].

Armstrong:
Pine Creek Sportsmen's Club will host its junior pheasant hunt on Bassinger Farm near Templeton for 20 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 10. 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.  Deadline to register 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 for 50 juniors at Midland Sportsmen's Club.  Deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Rich Kerlin at 724-378-8345 or email [email protected].

Bedford:
Bedford County Sportsman's Club will host its junior pheasant hunt in Centerville for 50 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 13. Contact Chad Kendall at 814-847-2558 or email [email protected]

Bedford-Fulton Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 97 for 40 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Jeff Green at 814-977-5458  or email [email protected].

Centre:
Three Point Sportsmen Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at DCNR Ground in Kato for 50 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Steven Demyan at 814-387-6779 or email [email protected] or Richard Biggans at 814-387-4248.

Clearfield:
Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited will host its junior pheasant hunt at the "Big A" hunting lodge near Luthersburg for 30 juniors.  The deadline for registration is Sept. 15.  Contact Laura Johnson at 814-371-4856 or email [email protected].

Columbia:
Central Susquehanna Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 226  for 50 juniors.  Deadline for registration is Sept. 15. Contact Jack Kile at 570-443-7618 or email [email protected].

Erie:
Pheasants Forever NWPA Chapter 728 will be hosting is junior pheasant hunt on Millers Farm, Riley Siding Road near New Union City for 60 juniors.  Deadline for registration is Sept. 8.  Contact Heath Moss at 814-566-1774 or email [email protected].

Elk:
Pheasants Forever Chapter 630 will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 44, Sawmut Tract, Brockport for 45-50 juniors.  The deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Tim Rowan  at 814-849-8065 or 814-715-2754.

Greene:
Tri-County  Quality Deer Management Assn will host its junior hunt at the Association for 35 juniors.  Registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Kathy Davis at 724-263-9719 or Dennis McCann at 724-998-2809 or email [email protected].

Lancaster:
Lititz Sportsmen's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at Speedwell Forge Lake near Lititz for 24-28 juniors.  The deadline to register 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 45 juniors.  The deadline to register is Sept. 9.  Contact Corey Wiesel at 570-282-6346  email [email protected].

Pike:
Promised Land Sportsman's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the association on Route 390 for 50 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 1. Contact Craig Fischer at 570-236-9756 or [email protected].

Schuylkill:
Gordon Game & Fish Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at "The Barn" two miles east of Gordon for 25 juniors.  The deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact John Towey at  570-205-2682 or email [email protected].

Warren:
Kalbfus Rod and Gun Club will hold its junior pheasant hunt at the Hibner property near Sugar Grove for 20 juniors.  The deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Michael Fadale at 814-723-4461 or email [email protected].

Washington:
McDonald Sportsmen will host its junior pheasant hunt in McDonald for 50 juniors.  Deadline to register is Sept. 15.  Contact Bernie Dhans at 724-288-5092.

Westmoreland:
NWTF  Local Chapter 1 will host its junior pheasant hunt at Bush Creek Road, Mt. Pleasant for 25 juniors.  Registration deadline is Sept. 15.  Contact Deborah Overly at 724-691-4756.

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.  Deadline to register is Sept. 13.  Contact Kevin Adams at 724-423-8445 or email [email protected].

Law Enforcement Officers of Westmoreland County will host its junior pheasant hunt at Mammoth Park, near Norvelt for 50 juniors.  Registration deadline is Sept. 10.  Contact Jerry Trainer at 724-837-3927 or email [email protected].

Little Sewickley Sportsman Club will host its junior pheasant hunt  at "The Old Hunt Farm" in Lycipus for 50 juniors.  Registration deadline is Sept. 11.  Contact Jay Bossart at 724-423-6714.

York:
Starview Sportsmen's Association will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 243, Franklintown for 12 juniors.  The deadline to register is Sept. 4.  Contact Michael Heindel at 717-266-0783.

JUNIOR HUNTING SEASONS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
In addition to the upcoming junior pheasant season, which will be held Oct. 8-15, 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 added to the agency's line up is the junior rabbit season, which will run concurrently with the junior pheasant season, from Oct. 8-15.

"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 that 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/Junior Hunt Planning Guide" in the "Special Hunt Guides."

Other junior-only seasons in which participating junior-aged hunters are not required to first obtain a license are for squirrel (Oct. 8-14) and waterfowl (Sept. 17 and 24).  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. 20-22) and spring gobbler day (April 21).

Roe also noted 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