This weekend is the sole opportunity for youth to go pheasant hunting in southeastern Iowa.
Department of Natural Resources State Conservation Officer Wes Gould says youth hunters do not need a hunting license for the youth pheasant season, but they must be under 16 years old and accompanied by a licensed adult. Gould gives youth hunters safety precautions, “The number one thing I tell youth especially, is treat the gun as if it’s always loaded and always be sure what’s beyond your target. Sometimes people have a problem with what we call target fixation. We get locked in on our target and we can’t see what’s beyond, and then we forget that once we fire upon that target our shot that we shoot travels beyond and can strike people and objects.”
Youth hunters are allowed to harvest one rooster a day. Youth pheasant harvesting is allowed October 21 and 22 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.