Rooster pheasant season starts Oct. 12, 2024.

LA GRANDE — Hunters age 17 and younger who have finished a hunter education course are urged to sign up for free pheasant hunts in September, including events at Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, near Irrigon and near Prairie City.

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

ODFW recommends hunters register in advance, but walk-ins are also 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 search under “outdoor skills” under the class workshop category. Hunts are listed alphabetically by city name.

The hunts are free, although 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 free hunts.

“Youth pheasant hunts are a great chance for young hunters to find early success and put the lessons learned in hunter education to work in the field,” said Jered Goodwin, ODFW hunter education coordinator.

See page 26-27 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations for more information, or see myodfw.com/articles/youth-pheasant-hunts for the local contact for each hunt.

For help signing up, call Myrna Britton at 503-947-6028 or by email at Myrna.B.Britton@odfw.oregon.gov.

Hunts in Northeastern Oregon:

• Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area, Sept. 16 and 17.

• John Day Valley near Prairie City, Sept. 16 and 17.

• Irrigon Wildlife Area, Sept. 23.