SALEM — Hunters age 17 and younger who have finished a hunter education course can sign up for free pheasant hunts in September throughout Oregon, including at the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area near La Grande and areas close to Irrigon and Prairie City.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and its private partners stock pheasants for these hunts to give youths a head start on the regular pheasant season, which starts in early October. Most free hunts are at ODFW wildlife areas, though a few are on private land.

Volunteers bring their trained hunting dogs to some events. Some events also host a shooting skills session before the hunt.

ODFW recommends youth register in advance for most events, but walk-ins are welcome if space allows. All registration is online. To register, log in to the youth hunter’s account at the MyODFW licensing page. Then go to “Purchase from the Catalog” and look under “Category” for “outdoor skills.” Final details about the event will be emailed to the address within the account.

The hunts are free, though participants need a valid hunting license ($10 for youth 12 and older, free for age 11 and under) to hunt. Youth hunters age 12-17 also need an upland game bird validation ($4). Licenses and validations will not be sold at the events.

Some areas will host the event Saturday and Sunday. Youth who register for one day are welcome to hunt stand-by on the other day.

See page 26-27 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations for more information or visit shorturl.at/WAe5E.

Youth pheasant hunt dates and locations in Eastern Oregon

• Sept. 14 and 15, John Day Valley (Prairie City), private lands

• Sept. 14 and 15, La Grande, Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area

• Sept. 14 and 15, Tygh Valley/The Dalles, White River Wildlife Area

• Sept. 21, Pendleton/Umatilla area, Irrigon Wildlife Area

More Information

For more information on Oregon youth pheasant hunts, visit shorturl.at/1Tysn.