Youth Pheasant Hunts
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:
- 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
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
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: |
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: |
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 |
How to sign up
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.
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
- 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.
PRAIRIE CITY (private land in John Day Valley) – Sept. 14 & 15
- Max # of hunters: 30.
- Reservations required online.
- Bring your own shotgun.
- The hunt will take place on private lands in the John Day Valley.
- YOUTH Shotgun Skills Clinic onsite from 8am - 3pm.
- Call 541-575-1167 for more information.
TYGH VALLEY White River Wildlife Area - Sept 16 & 17
- Maximum # hunters: 20 per day.
- Reservations required.
- Bring your own shotgun.
- Only federally-approved nontoxic shot allowed.
- For more information: call 541-544-2126.