Youth Pheasant Hunts

Youth hunts focused on safety and success

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

Yth pheasant
Scroll Right

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

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.
    Brown dog in grassing field running toward camera with pheasant in mouth
    ​ 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.
      Two young hunters with a dog walk in grassy field away from camers
      Youth have an opportunity to hunt in a variety of habitats.

    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.

    Online registration