Youth Pheasant Hunt Provides a Memorable Experience
Originally Published in the Walla Walla Union Bulletin, November 8th, 2025.
October brings a welcome autumnal change and the opening of the upland bird seasons. The awaited time has finally arrived to let the dogs run and put some miles under our feet amid the pristine early fall weather. October also brings the Blue Mountain Pheasants Forever (BMPF) annual youth pheasant hunt at Clyde Shooting Preserve. This coveted event offers children and young adults the opportunity to try bird hunting for the first time or refine their skills in a safe environment. BMPF volunteers guide the hunts with their seasoned pointing dogs, and I accompanied one such noteworthy hunt on October 4th.
At 10:00 a.m., a young hunter arrived for a one-on-one hunt with BMPF mentor, Dan Eveland. Dan is a setter guy like me. In addition to his two English setters, Alex and Sage, he brought his newest addition to the family, Bella. Bella is a sleek, black, adult female Gordon setter with a phenomenal pedigree and a strong hunting background. Naturally, I invited myself to accompany Dan and help mentor what would turn out to be a memorable hunt.
Our mentee, a young man who had never hunted birds, was about to experience his long-awaited first hunt. He admitted to watching countless hours of bird hunting films on YouTube. The dog work and birds enamored him – a familiar story to those of us who cope with the upland hunting affliction. Additionally, this was Dan and Bella’s first hunt together.
A light wind blew across the parched soil, rustling the golden grasses. Rooster pheasants were hiding somewhere ahead of us, and finding them was inevitable with Dan’s three-setters covering the field. They spread out in flashes of black, brown, and white, their tails whipping up above the grasses like periscopes as they galloped.
Sage came up with the first point. A true lady in the ways of bird dog etiquette, Sage does not bump birds, and she honors another’s point flawlessly. With an assist from Alex, followed by Bella, our young hunter made his first approach for the exhilarating flush of a big rooster.
Dan led the hunter to the bird, coaching him on how to read the dog, what to expect on the flush, and how to prepare for the shot with each step of his approach. The hunter’s eyes searched the grasses as they stepped ahead of Alex. After a moment of searching, the rooster erupted in a clatter of wings and a blur of colorful plumage. Meanwhile, the hunter remained calm, shouldered the black 20-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, and squeezed the trigger. The bird escaped, but the young man kept meticulous mental notes, as we would later find out.
We followed the dogs through several other similar occurrences, with Bella leading the pack in pinpointing the birds. Our hunter followed all instructions, ensured his safe handling of the shotgun, and drank in the nuances of upland hunting with every rooster’s flush.
As we approached the end of the field, the dogs set up an opportunity much like the first. Sage locked up at a hint of bird scent, followed by Alex out ahead, but Bella pulled in for the win. As Dan and the young man tried to flush ahead of Alex, Bella peeled around to the right about 10 yards and stood staunch. The rooster had sneaked around us.
Dan and the hunter changed course to launch the big rooster from beneath Bella’s nose. This time, the lessons learned from prior flushes helped the hunter prepare. He swiftly shouldered the shotgun, swung on the bird, and connected perfectly. It was hard to tell who was most excited among us, given the hunter’s stoic personality. We hope to see him at future BMPF youth events.
This hunt is but one of many similar first-time hunter experiences that make the BMPF youth program effective, and the benefits are widespread. First-time hunters attending events sponsored by organizations like BMPF are exposed to the conservation ethics that drive the organization and its volunteers, which include advocacy, funding, and hands-on habitat work. These opportunities are the foundation of building the conservation bench.
BMPF and upland hunting provide a community centered around the dogs and wild places that we love. Additionally, hunting is a family and community pastime. Upland hunting can incorporate multiple generations, has a relatively low cost of entry (shotgun, shells, hunting license, and minimal other gear), and provides a social experience for all.
The culinary rewards of upland hunting alone are worth the adventure. From braised pheasant legs to game bird pot pies and schnitzel, there are innumerable delicate dishes to come from the day’s bird hunt. Food naturally brings people together, and sharing wild game meals with friends and family sparks recollection and conversation about the hunts, strengthening relationships.
The BMPF-sponsored Family Hunt at Clyde Shooting Preserve, scheduled for November 29th, is another opportunity for youth and their families to gather for a hunt and possibly take home some pheasant for a fine meal. For more information about BMPF or upcoming events, visit their website at www.bmpf258.org.