Toledo Blade outdoor writer Steve Pollick on Wednesday noted that Ohio's young hunters will get a jump on upland game hunting this weekend with the opening of two special advance seasons on pheasants and rabbits.
From the story:
Properly licensed hunters ages 17 and younger, accompanied by non-hunting adults, will be allowed afield Saturday and Sunday and again Oct. 28 and 29. The general upland seasons in Ohio do not open until Nov. 3.
Releases of state-raised pheasants are set just prior to each weekend on an array of state wildlife areas, including Resthaven in Erie County, Oxbow in Defiance County, Killdeer Plains in Wyandot County, in northwest Ohio.
In conjunction with the youth hunting weekends, the Wood/Lucas Chapter of Pheasants Forever has scheduled two of its patented youth hunts, Oct. 28 from the Wood County Fairgrounds in Bowling Green and Dec. 9 at Maumee Bay State Park.
The PF hunts include orientation sessions discussing hunting safety and ethics, a supervised field experience led by guides with bird dogs, and post-hunt sessions on proper game handling. A lunch with prize drawings also is in the program.
The hunts are open to youths ages 12 to 15 who have completed hunter education and have valid licenses. Hunters must be accompanied by licensed non-hunting adults. To apply, contact Lou Best, hunt coordinator, 419-353-3171, this week.
Pollick goes on to mention that the Ohio Division of Wildlife plans the release of some 15,000 ringed-neck pheasants on 29 public hunting areas statewide in advance of the youth and general seasons.
Click on 'Read More' for more details, and for commentary on the enjoyment of youth hunting by Buckeye Firearms Association's Larry Moore.