The Youth Pheasant Hunt Weekend here in eastern New York was this past Saturday and Sunday. Youngsters ages 12-15 who completed Hunter Education and possessed a valid hunting license were allowed to participate in the special hunt that is held ahead of the opening of the regular pheasant, which starts Saturday. The youthonly weekend is held the same time each year, the last full weekend in September.
The Federation of Dutchess County Fish and Game Clubs has organized a formal hunt at the Lafayetteville State Forest in the town of Milan each year since 1995 with two exceptions: one year because of the weather, and one year for COVID. You could not have asked for better weather for this past weekend’s hunt.
A total of 41 youngsters took advantage of the opportunity. They all were required to attend a pre-hunt safety briefing from a master hunter instructor and a state Environmental Conservation Officer.
Volunteers are at the core of this successful youth hunt, and they have been since the first one was held in 1995 by David Wohlbach of the town of Clinton. Wohlbach was a well-known local hunter and dog trainer who passed away in 2014. This year there were 30 or more volunteers, including more than a dozen field dog handlers. Breakfast, lunch and beverages were served from before the first hunt, until after the last.
The area is divided into five major fields and all movement into and out of the fields is controlled so there are no safety issues.
Not every youngster took a bird, but they all had a good, if not challenging hunt. About one out of three kids managed to take a pheasant or two home for dinner.
All of the youngsters owe a debt of gratitude to each of the volunteers, and to Anthony Pittore, the current organizer. Pittore took over in 2014 and he has had his hand on the tiller ever since.
It is interesting to note that most of the young hunters were new this year. That the hunt continues to attract new and inexperienced hunters is comforting. It’s sometimes tough to pull kids away from their electronic gadgetry and get them outside. However, the youth hunt shows that it can be done.
Plans are already underway for the 2023 hunt.
