Youth Pheasant Hunts

Youth hunts focused on safety and success

How to hunt game birds

Where to hunt game birds

Youth Pheasant Hunts give young hunters a chance to hunt in a controlled setting with a focus safety and success.

Why consider a Youth Pheasant Hunt

ODFW releases pheasants to give young hunters a taste of an actual hunt. Over the last 10 years, these free youth hunts have hosted 7,212 participants who harvested 7,432 pheasants. Here are five reasons they're so popular:

pheasants being released into grassy field — ODFW releases pheasants to increase a young hunter's chances for success.

No adult competition. Youth hunts occur before the official pheasant season begins.
Emphasis on safety and ethical hunting practices.
Increased opportunity of success. ODFW releases pen-raised pheasants for each hunt because early success can help build positive lifetime hunting fundamentals.
Available statewide. Variety of hunt locations with mixed habitats.
Fee free!

How they work

A young pheasant hunter with a dpg — Some hunts offer the chance to work with a trained hunting dog.

Each Youth Pheasant Hunt is a bit different depending on location. Almost all hunts take place at ODFW wildlife areas, though a few are on private land. At a minimum, all hunts offer a place to hunt and a chance to harvest planted pheasants.

Some hunts require advanced sign-up and some are first come, first served. The total number of participants and the hunt hours may also vary by location.
Some offer a just a location and planted birds for young hunters to go out with family or friends. Great for kids who have an experienced hunter to mentor them during the hunt.
Other hunts include safety presentations, shotgun shooting practice and/or efforts to connect young hunters with mentors and trained dogs. These are a good choice for kids whose parents don’t hunt, and who don’t have a hunting mentor.

Find the right hunt for you

Part of selecting a hunt will depend on your location and what hunts are nearby. Once you select a hunt, contact the hunt coordinator for more details. In addition, indicate if you have a disability or hunting request, such as:‌

Borrowing a shotgun and safety gear.
Connecting with a hunting mentor.
Sign up to hunt with a trained hunting dog.
Address mobility issues or other disability.

Our hunt coordinators will try to work with you to create a successful hunting opportunity.

Requirements of participate

A young hunter walks in a grassy field with an adult mentor nearby — Youth can hunt with their parents, or a hunting mentor.

To participate in Youth Pheasant Hunts, you MUST:

Be 17 or younger and accompanied by a non-hunting adult who is at least 21 years old.
Have a valid Hunter Safety Education card (temporary/permanent).
Have a valid hunting license, if 12 or older, with an upland game bird validation, and a permit for the hunt area, if required.
Wear a blaze orange hat and vest, and shooting glasses or other eye protection. Adults accompanying you must also wear these same items.
Use only federally approved non-toxic shot.

2024 Youth Upland Game Bird Hunts

Date	Location	Time	Max # hunters	Phone
Sept. 7-8	Eugene, Fern Ridge Wildlife Area	7 am check-in, 8 am – 5 pm hunt	75	(541) 935-2591
Sept 14-15	Central Point, Denman Wildlife Area	7 am check-in, 8am - 5pm hunt	90	(541) 826-8774
Sept 14-15	Klamath Falls, Klamath Wildlife Area	7 am check-in, 8 am – 5 pm hunt	80	(541) 883-5732
Sept 14-15	La Grande, Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area	7 am check-in, 8 am – 5 pm hunt	35	(541) 963-4954
Sept 14-15	Portland, Sauvie Island Wildlife Area	7am check-in, 8 am - 5pm hunt	50	(503) 621-3488
Sept 14-15	Tygh Valley, White River Wildlife Area	7 am check-in, 8 am – 1 pm hunt	20	(541) 544-2126‌
Sept 14-15	Madras, Central Oregon	Hunt 1: 7:30 am check-in, 8 am - 10 am hunt, Hunt 2: 11 am check-in, 11:30am - 1:30pm hunt	30	(541) 447-5111
Sept. 14-15	Prairie City, private lands	8 am - 3 pm hunt	30	(541) 575-1167
Sept. 21	Irrigon, Irrigon Wildlife Area	Hunt 1: 7:30 check-in, 8 am – 12 pm hunt Hunt 2: 12:30 check-in, 1 pm - 5 pm hunt	15 per hunt	(541) 276-2344
Sept 28-29	Coquille, Coquille Valley Wildlife Area	4 two hour hunts per day: from 7:30am - 2:30pm	20	(541) 888-5515
Sept 28-29	Monmouth, EE Wilson Wildlife Area	8 am – 4 pm hunt	75	(541) 745-5334

Reservations are required, except at Fern Ridge and Klamath wildlife areas.

Hunters can sign up for just one day. However, kids without reservations or who want to hunt a second day may be able to hunt on a standby basis.
Make reservations online, *unless indicated in location description below.
Registration is free, and the last day to register is the Thursday before the hunt.

Open hunt areas and regulations

CHARLESTON Coquille Valley Wildlife Area – Sept. 28 & 29

Max # of hunters: 20.
Reservations required online.
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Call 541-888-5515 for more information.

Some young hunters may have a chance to see a trained hunting dog in action.

CENTRAL POINT Denman Wildlife Area – Sept. 14 & 15

Max # of hunters: 90.
Reservations required online; standby hunters welcome!
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
YOUTH Shotgun Skills Clinic onsite from 8am -5pm
Call 541-826-8774 for more information.

EUGENE Fern Ridge Wildlife Area – Sept. 7 & 8

Max # of hunters: 75 hunters.
No advanced registration for hunt required.
Special Field Day - Eugene - 09/07/24 - (8 am - 12 pm) – Fern Ridge Wildlife Area - 26969 Cantrell Rd, Eugene, OR 97402. Instructor: Ivan Hernandez
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Check-in at the Ken Nielson Rd. parking lot.
East and West Coyote and Fisher Butte units will be open to hunting.
Call 541-935-2591 for more information.

IRRIGON Irrigon Wildlife Area – Sept. 21

Max # of hunters: 30.
Reservations required online; standby hunters welcome!
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Check-in at parking lot at milepost 177.5 on Hwy 730 between Umatilla and Irrigon
For more information: 541-276-2344.

KLAMATH FALLS Klamath Wildlife Area – Sept. 14 & 15

Max # of hunters: 80.
No advanced registration required.
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Check-in located 1/4 West of Hwy 97 on the North side of Miller Island Rd
Call 541-883-5732 for more information.

LA GRANDE Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area – Sept. 14 & 15

Young hunter in orange cap and vest holds two recently harvested pheasants — Participants are allowed to harvest up to two pheasants.

Max # of hunters: 35.
Reservations required online; standby hunters welcome!
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Check-in starts at Ladd Marsh Headquarters, 59116 Pierce Rd.
Only a designated portion of the area will be open.
YOUTH Shotgun Skills Clinic onsite 8am - 5pm.
Call 541-963-4954 for more information.

MADRAS (Private Lands in Central Oregon) - Sept. 14 & 15‌

Max # of hunters: 30.
Reservations required.
Bring your own shotgun.
This hunt is on private land. Check-in is at Rocker 3 Ranch, 10 NE Juniper Ln. Madras, Oregon 97741
Call 541-447-5111 for more information.

MONMOUTH E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area – Sept. 28 & 29

Max # of hunters: 75.
*Call or Email directly to register prior to event (541-745-5334) – shawn.k.woods@odfw.oregon.gov.
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Only a designated portion of the area will be open.
YOUTH Shotgun Skills Clinic onsite 8am - 4pm.
For more information 541-745-5334

PORTLAND Sauvie Island Wildlife Area – Sept. 14 & 15

Max # of hunters: 50.
Reservations required online; standby hunters welcome!
Bring your own shotgun.
Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
Check-in at the intersection of NW Reeder & NW Rentenaar Rd
YOUTH Shotgun Skills Clinic onsite 8am -5pm.
For more information: 503-621-3488.

Youth have an opportunity to hunt in a variety of habitats.