Montana Youth Can Get A Head Start On Pheasant Season

Youth hunters can get a head start on pheasant and waterfowl hunting during the 2023 Youth Pheasant and Waterfowl Weekend September 23rd and 24th.

Licensed hunters, 15 and under, will be able to hunt pheasants, ducks, mergansers, geese and coots statewide on these two days.

Prior to the youth weekend, FWP will release pheasants, raised by Montana Correctional Enterprises, on state-owned lands with suitable pheasant habitat.

The two-day youth hunt is open to:

legally licensed 12- to 15-year-olds who have completed hunter education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age,
properly certified and legally licensed apprentice hunters 10-15 years of age who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult "mentor" at least 21 years of age..

The release sites are at the following wildlife management areas (WMAs), fisheries conservation areas (FCA), fishing access sites (FAS) and Department of Natural Resources Conservation (DNRC) lands:

Region 1: North Shore WMA, Foys Bend FCA
Region 3: Canyon Ferry WMA, Lake Helena WMA
Region 4: Freezout Lake WMA, Arod Lakes DNRC, Bullhead Ranch DNRC
Region 5: Grant Marsh WMA, Yellowstone WMA, Clark's Fork of Yellowstone FAS, Selkirk FAS
Region 6: Lost River WMA, Fresno Reservoir WMA, Rookery WMA, Dodson Dam WMA, Cree Crossing WMA, Sleeping Buffalo WMA, Hinsdale WMA, Vandalia WMA
Region 7: Isaac Homestead WMA, Amelia Island WMA

FWP is hosting several kick-off events that will give young hunters the opportunity to meet with mentors and FWP staff. Events already have occurred in Regions 5 and 7.

The remaining kick-off events are scheduled as follows:

Region 1: Sept. 19, 5-8 p.m., Flathead Valley Clay Target Club, 1290 Prairie View Road, Kalispell
Region 2: Sept. 19, 4-8 p.m., Region 2 Headquarters, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula
Region 3: Sept. 19, 6-7:30 p.m., Montana WILD Education Center, 2668 Broadwater Ave., Helena
Region 4:
- Sept. 23, 8 a.m. to noon, Lau Shooting Preserve, registration required
- Sept. 23, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, Fairfield
Region 6: Sept. 19, 5-7:30 p.m., Havre Trap Club, 101 County Road 802

For more information about these events, including how to register, go to fwp.mt.gov/youth-hunt.