Youth hunters in the Vancouver area will once again have a special opportunity to hunt pheasants this month thanks to an ongoing collaboration between the Vancouver Wildlife League (VWL) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
On Sept. 16 and 17 volunteers with VWL will host their annual youth pheasant hunt with support from WDFW’s hunter education program.
This year’s event will be held at two locations on WDFW’s Shillapoo Wildlife Area northwest of Vancouver:
Advance registration is not required.
Youth under 16 may show up at one of the two locations between 7:30 and 8 a.m. to sign up for the day’s hunt, which is only allowed after 8 a.m. each day.
There will be a firearms safety discussion before hunters proceed into the field. Youth hunters without dogs will be matched up with VWL volunteers with hunting dogs.
Hunters must abide by the following rules to participate in the hunt:
- Hunters must wear 400 square inches of blaze orange or blaze pink.
- Non-toxic shot is required.
- Youth hunters must possess a Western Washington pheasant hunting license ($40.50).
- A small game license is not required.
- Hunting is allowed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m..
- The bag limit is two pheasants of either sex per day.
- VWL will provide a lunch for youth hunters.
Eye and ear protection are always recommended while hunting or shooting.
WDFW raises pheasants at the Bob Oke Game Farm in Centralia and VWL volunteers release them in several different locations within the hunting areas. Youth are accompanied by an experienced volunteer adult hunter and a dog, if necessary. Youth hunters can continue to hunt when the regular pheasant season opens.
In Washington, Sept. 16 and 17 are statewide youth-only hunting dates for pheasant and quail. Youth hunters are defined as those under 16 with a valid youth hunting license. More information is available online and on page 14 of the Game Bird and Small Game Regulations.
Information on Hunter Education requirements can be found on WDFW’s Hunter Education webpage. For tips on pheasant hunting, visit the pheasant hunting webpage.
