I've raised a few pheasants this year (60+), mainly to train Cedar, my yellow lab. All tagged up on the state bird bands and all, so we're legit on the birds. Anyway, I have a few properties where I could do a release of birds, essentially hour by hour, allowing kids to hunt behind their dog, or my dog. Birds specifically released between each hunt. Strictly put and take. This would be on private land, absolutely minimal pressure. 2 kids hunting per hour, etc. Looking to do this the kids hunting weekend in either Grays Harbor or Thurston County. The GH county property has much more land.

Kids would need all licenses, hunter ed, hunter orange, etc. Their own frearm is a plus, but we might have a loaner 20 gauge or two available. Maybe a single shot and a pump.

My boys and I would probably float for ducks on Saturday, so it would be a Sunday show. This would be on September 25th, I believe, 8am-4pm.

Not looking to make this a pay event, just have some fun with kids. This would be an opportunity to get some kids into birds without going to a State release site, great for a kid's first bird in a safe environment.

Anyway, I know a few guys here with kids that would have first dibs, but I thought I would throw that out there.

great offer dogfish

I know a couple of kids with a goof ball choco lab that might be interested in that.
What are the tides looking like that weekend on GH

That's a heck of an offer and a great idea.

My son will be taking hunters ed this winter in anticipation of his first bear hunt on POW next spring.

Very generous offer DF! I hope you get lots of interest!!!

In for both days!

Glad you are in Dave. Was hoping you and Brent would be up for this. Art, you too. Our place is yours as far as an overnight stay is concerned.

As we get closer to this, and I decide on which property we use, I certainly could use a few "safety officers", and folks who have experienced dogs who want them to get some practice.

Basically have a safety briefing before each hunt, have a few clay launchers for kids to practice with, then have at it.

Yet another reason why DF is top drawer....

Take lots of pixels of the grins!

Shhhh................

I'm an asshole, and everybody should drop me as their facebook friend.

I'd be in, too. My daughter hasn't done the hunters Ed thing yet, and I think she's too small to shoot a 20ga. But I'm sure she'd love to watch and learn. It would be a great opportunity for the dog, too. I'm also safety dad. I have a pretty extensive collection of safety glasses and earplugs as well.




Willy

Love to have you Willy. There is a waiver for hunter's ed for a year, if your daughter would be interested. Get her a license. We have a suitable gun for her.

hey DF, i just checked, they only offer the one-time deferral for kids 10 and older. Lindsey won't be 10 until january. we've done the bulk of the online course together, but stopped when summer started. looks like all the available courses are booked for the year. anyway, we'd still like to come over, if that's cool...



willy

Hey Bill
Get her in the one at the VA hall in Bothell. Give me a ring.

Property in Grays Harbor, near Elma is confirmed.

I have rounded up a total of about 10 kids, which I think is enough. Art, you and your kids are good to go, and you as well Dave.

Willy, we would love to have her tag along, see the action, etc. 2MANY, if your dogs would like a workout, we could probably use them.

crap
http://www.everettcohoderby.com/

Kind of work related.
Might get out of it.

Let me know Art.

Bird bands for the event.


Should the kids be lucky enough to score on a bird, they will have a band.

Jewelry hunt.

soooo shiny! can't wait. i'm heading upstairs now to steal some safety glasses!!



willy

Skipping the Everett derby to do Kids weekend with Doc in GH. Is this going to happen? Whats the schedule.

Event is a go on Sunday. Need a final head count on how many kids. Confirmed Dave's son. Art, you bringing both kids? My boys make 5, and I think Willy's daughter will be showing up to see how it is done. 2many, if you want to work your dog, swing on down. I think I have 5 other folks.

We'll meet up at the Rusty Tractor in Elma around 7:00am or so on Sunday. We can decide from there how to run the hunt. Dave may end up guiding you guys in as I'll have the birds and get things set up. I'll have a few other folks showing up in the afternoon as well. Don't necessarily need everyone there at the same time.

I have 22 pheasants ready. I also have a few spare valley quail, as I have 6 males and 4 females, so I'm thinking 4 comma-heads will be released. I'll also donate 100+ 20 gauge rounds, and some clays to get the kids warmed up. We'll have a 20ga single shot and pump to lend out if needed, plus a few others. I can also bring a scalder and a plucker to dress the birds up in a hurry.

PM me if you need my number.

We'll be there. I have about 10 pairs of safety glasses to donate, as well as earplugs. Oh, and a pup. DF, pm me your number. Let me know if there's anything else you need. And thanks!



Willy

Field chosen. Actually we have 2 good fields available. One is about 20 acres and the other is at the end of a long & skinny 95 acre field.

7:30am meeting time at the Rusty Tractor.

edit out.

Looking forward to reports and pics. . ..

Well, that was fun! A few birds were hurt during the course of this event. Pics to follow once we get cleaned up.

I've got to say that Dogfish and Seastrike ran an amazing hunt for the kids! It was a well controlled, safe environment for the kids. While the weather ( for Lindsey and I and Ryan) could have been a bit less oppressive, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Lindsey killed her first game animal and we ate it tonight. After a change out of her wet gear and a hot chocolate at the rusty tractor, she is looking forward to next time. THANK YOU! Dogfish and Seastirke are top-notch guys and I'm looking forward to hooking up with you again soon. Can't thank you enough for the invite.



Willy

Thanks Bill for heading out. Thanks also for bringing her out. Definitely had some monsoon rains for Lindsey to hunt in. Unfortunately that was the worst rain during the day.

My friend Jim Bain and I had talked about doing this over the past few years, and we had released a few birds on his property for the boys to hunt. Once we started growing our own pheasants I told Jim that we would provide the birds for the hunt.

Well, today in the spirit that Jim had intended ,we held a kids only pheasant hunt. I brought 20 pheasants and 4 quail for 10 kids to hunt. None of them had ever taken a pheasant and a few had never hunted before.

17 pheasants and 3 quail hit the ground dead, and every single kid had some success, getting at least one bird. Looks like we planted just a few birds foe next year.

My Ducks Unlimited group tossed in a few hundred dollars for the kids, and some hats and other bling, so each kid walked away with a bird or two, a memory of a safe first hunt, and some bling to show their friends.


Sadly, I had called Jim a few days after my pheasants had just started laying and we would would be having a hunt this year. He passed a few days later.

Well, Jim. As you wanted, we got a lot of kids started in hunting pheasants today. Wish you could have been there.

I'll post some pictures as I get them from the parents. The hunt was held on a property about a half mile from the back side of Jim's 90 acres.

Here is the quarry for the day, all loaded up.


Here is Cedar napping after putting up most of the birds today.

Nice job Andy. ..looking forward to more pics ..

Thanks for an awsome day DFISH. Looks like I will be heading east with the kids for a Pheasant hunt this year. Just when I was wondering if Allie really wants to hunt or if she just does it to make me happy you got the question answered for me. Both of my kids didn't stop talking about it all day. We had a killer dinner tonight too. Been a long time sense I have seen a ringneck droped but the ones I saw today ment more to me than any I have ever shot. Can't thank you enough for all that you did to put that together. Tell your DU guys thanks and I'll try get to the Banquet this year.

Doesn't get much better than that!

Outfriggenstanding to all, very cool deal

Andy,
What a great thing you did for the kids. You have tremendous Karma points coming to you in some fashion. You define the word sportsman and set the bar high, nice work. Me and my 'Yute would have joined in the festivities had he not been terrorizing Gods creatures on the eastside.

As long as I can raise enough birds next year, I plan on doing this again.

Dogfish, that is downright awesome! It's great to see smiles like that on the kids faces, they'll hunt in some way or another for the rest of they're lives. Great Job!

DF,

This is so cool! I wish my son wasn't such a anti killing kid

Awesome Andy! Way cool!
Next year I'll have my kids ready for this event.

too cool way to put in the time and everything for the kids to have a great day.. good on ya