Delaware County Pheasants Forever Hosting Youth Hunt During Special Season

Young hunters will get to experience the first cackle and flush of the year during the youth-only pheasant season in Iowa this weekend. 

The residents-only youth season gives Iowans ages 15 and younger the opportunity to hunt for rooster pheasants without purchasing a license, habitat fee or taking hunter education. It also allows young hunters an opportunity for success without pressure or competition from other hunters. 

Kevin Lamphier with the Delaware County Chapter of Pheasants Forever says they’ll be hosting a youth hunt for kids ages 12 to 15 this Saturday. 

The youth hunt will take place at Tony Helmrichs’ farm west of Ryan, with the event starting at 8 am. 

The youth hunts are first-come first-serve with a limit of 25 kids. If you’re interested in attending, call Kevin at 563-608-5879. And he says their chapter is covering all the costs, so it’s free for the kids.

The DNR says the August pheasant population survey had the highest statewide counts since 2015, with the biggest increases coming from southwest, northwest and northeast regions. The statewide average was nearly 23 birds per route – that’s a 15 percent increase over 2022.

Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist with the Iowa DNR, says with the advanced crop harvest we’re seeing across much of the state, this would be a great time to spend a weekend in the field passing along our pheasant hunting tradition to the next generation.

photo courtesy of Delaware County Pheasants Forever/FB