Montana Fish Report

ODFW will host four family-friendly pheasant hunting workshops this fall: Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 at Sauvie Island, and Sept. 16 and Sept. 17 at EE Wilson Wildlife Area near Corvallis.

These workshops are perfect for beginners or people getting back to hunting after an absence. Instructors emphasize safety and fund and provide all necessary equipment, including firearms, eye and ear protection and hunter orange clothing. Trained hunting dogs and guides accompany hunters, increasing participants’ chances of success and allowing them to see these special dogs at work.

Kids need to be at least 9 years old to take part in the workshop. Any youth age 9-14 who isn’t hunter education certified can still take part in the event as part of the Mentored Youth Hunter Program, which requires separate free online registration.

These workshops cost just $52 for adults and $22 for youth with paying adult and the price includes lunch. Before the class, participants also need to purchase a 2017 hunting license ($32 for adults/$10 for children) and 2017-18 upland game bird validation ($9 for adults/$4 for childfren age 12-17). Licenses and validations aren’t sold at the events.

All participants are also required to take a shotgun skills class prior to the workshop. ODFW schedules the shotgun skills section on a different day, so hunters, dogs and handlers can hunt in the morning and be finished before it gets too hot.

The shotgun skills classes are at Mid Valley Clays in Gervais on Aug. 11 from 4-8 p.m., Aug. 12 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., or Aug. 26 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The cost is $12 for both adults and kids. Participants who bring their own shotguns need to bring their own ammunition as well.

For more information and a link to the registration site, click on links above or go to www.odfwcalendar.com People can register at ODFW’s license sales site online (click View All Classes Workshops/Outdoor Skills), at a license sales agent or at an ODFW office that sells licenses.