The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host a free youth pheasant hunt Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Gordon Guyer Augusta Creek State Wildlife Area, located at C Avenue East and 43rd Street North in Augusta.
Youth hunters, age 10-16, who have a hunter safety certificate and some hunting experience are welcome to join. Preregistration is required. To register, contact Cindy McQueer at mcqueerc@michigan.gov or 269-685-9074.
Mandatory orientation and
safety training will begin at 7:45 a.m., with the hunt beginning at 8 a.m.
Groups of two youth hunters will hunt in increments of 30 minutes.
Pheasants will be planted for each group.
A guide, dog and dog handler
will hunt with each group. The youth hunters will have an opportunity to
harvest at least one rooster pheasant. Hen pheasants also will be released to
allow the hunters to identify roosters versus hens. Participants are asked to
bring a cooler to take home any harvested pheasants.
There also will be activities at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, located at 12685
East C Ave. in Augusta, including a decoy-carving demonstration led by Willy
McDonald.
Lunch will be provided at noon
at the sanctuary’s Spruce Lodge. For special dietary needs, please inform Cindy
McQueer when registering. During lunch, one lucky youth hunter will be drawn to
win a decoy carved by Willy McDonald.
The second annual Joe
Johnson Memorial Youth Pheasant Hunt is in honor of influential conservationist Joe Johnson. Director of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary from 1985 to 2007, Johnson
was a leader in many conservation efforts throughout Michigan, the Great Lakes and beyond.
“We had a great experience with
this youth hunt last year, so we are doing it again,” said Chris Tracy, Natural
Resources Commissioner. “What a wonderful way to remember two of
Michigan’s conservation leaders – Joe Johnson and Gordon Guyer – by spending a
morning in October hunting together.”
The DNR would like to thank all
the sponsors of this event, including Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever,
Ruffed Grouse Society, Rustic Ridge Hunt Club, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and other
community members.
Pheasant season dates vary by hunt zone: Oct. 10 -31 for Zone 1, Oct. 20 - Nov. 14 for Zones 2 and 3, and Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 for Zone 3 only.
A valid base license is required to hunt small game. See the 2018 Hunting Digest for more information on pheasant
hunting.
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