NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife - Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt Day November 6


Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt Day November 6 October 28, 2004 The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs will sponsor the popular “Take A Kid Hunting” Youth Pheasant Hunt on Saturday, November 6. The Take A Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt is designed to increase a young hunter’s opportunity for harvesting a pheasant with the help of experienced volunteers and hunting dogs in a setting that encourages responsible, ethical and safe hunting practices. The hunt is specifically intended for youth hunters between the ages of 10 and 15 who have successfully completed a hunter education course and obtained a Youth Hunting License. Properly licensed youth hunters can hunt on one of seven DEP wildlife management areas (WMAs) throughout the state that will be stocked with pheasants. Volunteer mentors and dog handlers’ work in conjunction with the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife staff, and donate their time to ensure a quality experience for the youth hunters. Many are from the Division’s Wildlife Conservation Corps and Hunter Education Program, while others are private citizens not affiliated with the division. At least 10 volunteers help out at each of the seven wildlife management areas open for the Take a Kid Hunting Pheasant Hunt. Volunteers are needed for this program. Anyone interested in being a mentor or who is a trained dog handler should call Paul Ritter of the Hunter Education Program at 908-735-6826. All participants must pre-register and be accompanied to the check-in by a parent or guardian. Parents or guardians are welcome to stay for the hunt and are encouraged to follow the hunters afield. All pre-registered hunters will receive an information packet prior to the hunt. One session will be offered at each location starting at 7 a.m. Only 50 youth hunters will be allowed on each WMA for the mentored hunts. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of slots available, a random drawing will be held to select participants. The seven WMAs open to the hunt are Assunpink (Monmouth County), Black River (Morris County), Clinton (Hunterdon County), Colliers Mills (Ocean County), Millville (Cumberland County), Peaslee (Cumberland County) and Whittingham (Sussex County). Properly licensed youth hunters between the ages of 10 and 15 who do not pre-register for a guided hunt can hunt during special hours on any one of nine stocked WMAs. Hunters must be accompanied by a licensed, non-shooting adult aged 21 or older. Wildlife management areas open to non-guided youth pheasant hunting include: Assunpink, Black River, Clinton, Colliers Mills, Flatbrook, Glassboro, Millville, Peaslee and Whittingham. Hunting hours are from 1 p.m. to sunset, EXCEPT on the Flatbrook and Glassboro WMAs when hours are from 8 a.m. to sunset. There is no registration required for these times on these areas.