Youth Pheasant Hunt is Sept. 19th & 20th near Prairie City
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
PRAIRIE CITY – The Youth Pheasant Hunt in Grant County will be Saturday, September 19th and Sunday the 20th for young bird hunters 17-and-under. ODFW District Wildlife Biologist Ryan Torland and Oregon Bird Hunter’s Association President Mark Bagett were on KJDY’s Coffee Time recently. Torland said this year’s hunt will be similar to what has been seen in the past:
“We’re going to plant a little over 100 birds. We got 85 birds coming from ODFW, and Oregon Bird Hunters Association, thanks to Mark, added another 25 birds to that as well. [We’re] planting them out in fields, it’s kind of more realistic hunting. Having dogs is helpful if you have those to bring up; if you don’t, don’t worry about it, we have folks who can help take kids out—dog wranglers for them—and increase their opportunities to get a bird.”
Also, free and fun shotgun shooting practice will be set up for youngsters at the west end of Prairie City, near the town’s debris burn pile. Mark Bagett, who is also a shooting instructor, said at the range there will be a new featured “rabbit” target that rolls and hops along the ground, presenting a fun, unique, and sometimes challenging shooting experience:
“It’s thicker, and harder, and it rolls on-edge. It rolls along the ground. It may run quickly on the ground, or it may hit a little pebble, or a stick, or something, and hop five or six feet into the air when you least expect it. That’s one of the more popular targets.”
Young hunters can sign up for the Youth Pheasant Hunt at myodfw.com or show up to the Prairie Wood Products building in Prairie City by 8 a.m., September 19th and/or 20th. Each young hunter must have their Hunter Safety Education card and be accompanied by an adult.
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