Pheasant hunt prime youth opportunity

Mark Freeman, Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
·2 min read

Jul. 15—Rogue Valley young guns will find themselves with good chances of bagging a pheasant during the upcoming youth pheasant hunt planned Sept. 17-18 at the Denman Wildlife Area in White City.

The Oregon Hunters Association, Rogue Valley Retriever Club and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have teamed up this year to buy 600 birds for release on this two-day hunt.

This year, sign-ups are being handled online through ODFW's events calendar, but those who want help can call the agency's Denman office at 541-826-8774.

As in past years, all hunters will be provided with eye and ear protection as well as hunter-orange clothing.

Youth don't have to register early to get a space. Standby hunters will be granted access as others leave the field.

The youth pheasant hunt is one of the best game-bird opportunities for young hunters, most of whom hunt with the aid of a volunteer bird dog and its handler.

Youth can sign up now, but they must have a valid hunter-education card to hunt. An adult 21 or older must accompany the youth to supervise, but he or she may not hunt.

Both hunter and supervisor must wear a hunter-orange hat, eye protection and a hunter orange vest, and the equipment will be provided by ODFW at the clinics to anyone who doesn't have it. Hunters also need to check in and out of the hunt.

Razor clam closure

Razor clam digging on the popular beaches of Clatsop County is closed again through Sept. 30 to help young clams establish themselves there.

The annual "conservation closure" allows young clams to settle into 18 miles of Clatsop County beaches known to hold more than 90 percent of the razor clams dug annually by shellfish enthusiasts in Oregon.

The closure covers beaches from Tillamook Head to the mouth of the Columbia River. It went into effect today, as usual.

During the closure, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife staff will assess the razor clam stocks at these beaches.

Last year's assessment showed the highest clam abundance there since the surveys began in 2004, according to the ODFW.

The remainder of the Oregon Coast is open to razor clam digging, though successes are significantly lower than at Clatsop beaches.

Some South Coast hot spots include Winchester Bay near Reedsport and the beaches around Bandon and Gold Beach, according to ODFW statistics.

Mark Freeman covers the outdoors for the Mail Tribune. Reach him at 541-776-4470 or at mfreeman@rosebudmedia.com.