Twenty-four sportsmen’s clubs throughout Pennsylvania have signed up to host junior pheasant hunts. The clubs will share in about 1,800 pheasants the agency is providing for junior pheasant hunts, which all will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9.

The state’s long-standing two-pheasant daily bag limit will apply to junior hunters participating in the season. In addition, depending on the area they are hunting, juniors will be required to comply with restrictions on hunting male or female pheasants.

Eligible juniors must be between 12 and 16 years of age, and have successfully completed a basic Hunter-Trapper Education course. There is no requirement that participating juniors purchase a license, but they must wear the necessary orange and be accompanied as required by law.

Roe noted that the junior pheasant hunt is not part of the Mentored Youth Hunting Program for those hunters under the age of 12, which does include groundhog, squirrel, coyotes, spring gobbler and antlered deer. (For more information on the Mentored Youth Hunting Program, please see page 15 of the 2010-11 Digest.)

The junior pheasant season runs from Saturday, Oct. 9, through Saturday, Oct. 16. The season also takes advantage of many schools having off for the Columbus Day holiday. In addition to the pheasants being provided to clubs hosting a junior pheasant hunt, the Game Commission will stock 15,000 pheasants for the junior pheasant season on various sites throughout Pennsylvania on Friday, Oct. 8. For more information, including a listing of general stocking locations for the junior pheasant season, see pages 25-27 of the 2010-11 Pennsylvania Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, which is provided to each license buyer, or go to the Game Commission website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), put your cursor over “Hunt/Trap” in the menu bar at the top of the page, click on “Hunting,” click on “Pheasant” in the “Small Game” listing and then look under the “Junior Youth Pheasant Hunt” category.

Following is a county-by-county listing of the clubs hosting junior pheasant hunts, as well as contact information to enroll junior hunters:

Allegheny:
Bull Creek Rod & Gun Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club in Tarentum for 30 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Donald Lang Jr. at 724-226-9383 or e-mail donaldlang0605@yahoo.com.

Armstrong:
Pine Creek Sportsmen’s Club will host its junior pheasant hunt on Bassinger Farm near Templeton for 20 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 4. Contact William Bassinger Jr. at 724-548-7746.

Apollo Spring Church Sportsmen’s Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club for 30 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Rocco Ali at 724-478-4303, or Dan Shaffer at 724-681-2834.

Beaver:
Beaver County Sportsmen’s Conservation League will host its junior pheasant hunt at Midland Sportsmen’s Club for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Rich Kerlin at 724-378-8345 or e-mail kerlinkanine@aol.com.

Bedford:
Bedford County Sportsman’s Club will host its junior pheasant hunt in Centerville for 40 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 14. Contact Chad Kendall at 814-847-2558 or e-mail ckkendall@embarqmail.com.

Bedford-Fulton Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 97 for 30 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Jeff Green at 814-652-6796 or e-mail jeff@green-ranch.com.

Berks:
Bally Sportsmans Association will hold it’s junior pheasant hunt at the club for 25 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Bruce Moll at 610-845-0224.

Centre:
3 Point Sportsman Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the reclaimed strip mine between Clarence and Orviston for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Steven Demyan at 814-387-6779 or e-mail smdguide@yahoo.com.

Clearfield:
Pennsylvania Wildlife Habitat Unlimited will host its junior pheasant hunt at the “Big A” hunting lodge near Luthersburg for 25 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Laura Johnson at 814-371-4856 or 814-590-5935 or e-mail lauraj@zitomedia.net.

Columbia:
Central Susquehanna Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 226 in Millville for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Jack Kile at 570-443-7618 or e-mail beaublaize@hotmail.com.

Elk:
Pheasants Forever Chapter 630 will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 44 near Brandy Camp for 35 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Leon Blashock at 814-885-8950 or e-mail tobrits@windstream.net.

Lancaster:
Lititz Sportsmen’s Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at Speedwell Forge Lake near Lititz for 25-28 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Phil McCloud at 717-626-5884.

Luzerne:
Northeast PA Chapter of Pheasants Forever will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 119 near Bear Creek for 40 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 7. Contact Corey Wiesel at 570-282-6346 or 570-766-8469 or e-mail corey21@email.com.

Pike:
Promisedland Sportsman’s Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the association on Route 390 for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 1. Contact Craig Fischer at 570-676-5674 or e-mail cfisch20@gmail.com.

Schuylkill:
Gordon Game & Fish Protective Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at “The Barn,” near Gordon, for 25 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact John Towey at 570-875-4672 or 570-205-2682 or e-mail nucleartechjpt@yahoo.com.

Warren:
Kalbfus Rod & Gun Club will host its junior pheasant hunt in Lander for 25 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 11. Contact Chuck Travis at 814-726-1913, or Mark Zaffino at 814-723-1150 or e-mail travis39@atlanticBB.net.

Washington:
McDonald Sportsmen will host its junior pheasant hunt in McDonald for 30 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Bernie Dhans at 724-288-5092.

Westmoreland:
NWTF Local Chapter 1 will host its junior pheasant hunt at Bushy Run in Mt. Pleasant for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Rod Ansel at 724-244-1120, Sam Truxel at 724-244-7905, or Gill Shaffer 724-454-5111 or e-mail jolleyacres@zoominternet.net.

Rostraver Sportsman & Conservation Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club in Belle Vernon for 30 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 13. Contact Diane Hickman at 724-872-5783, or John Spina at 724-929-6533, or e-mail rostraversportmen@yahoo.com.

Youngwood Sportsmen’s Association will host its junior pheasant hunt at the club in Youngwood for 25 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Carl Rossman at 724-309-3275 or e-mail rossman48@verizon.net.

Laurel Highlands Chapter of Pheasants Forever and Kingston Veterans & Sportsmen Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at the Kingston Veterans & Sportsmen Club in Latrobe for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 15. Contact Kevin Adams at 724-423-8445 or e-mail adamsk@wpa.net.

Law Enforcement Officers of Westmoreland County will host its junior pheasant hunt at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant for up to 60 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 10. Contact Jerry Trainer at 724-493-9686 or e-mail toms@outdrs.net.

Little Sewickley Sportsman Club will host its junior pheasant hunt at “The Old Hunt Farm” in Lycipus for 50 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 13. Contact Jay Bossart at 724-423-6714.

York:
Starview Sportsmen’s Association will host its junior pheasant hunt on SGL 243 in Franklintown for 12 juniors. The registration deadline is Sept. 5. Contact Michael Heindel at 717-968-8912 or e-mail trappermike215@yahoo.com.

If you’ve ever been frustrated by your current riflescope’s inability to perform well in low-light conditions, visit www.NRAhuntersrights.org during the month of September for a chance to win a Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9×40 riflescope.

Trijicon’s AccuPoint line features a battery-free, self-illuminating reticle for a vivid aiming point in any light, be it dusk, dawn, or sometime in between. The AccuPoint is the only variable-power riflescope that combines both fiber optics and a built-in self-luminous Tritium Phosphor Lamp, meaning the aiming point automatically glows in low-light conditions-without the need for batteries. The model we’re giving away comes with a standard crosshair and green dot aiming point.

Other great features include easy-focus eyepieces, multi-coated lenses that gather loads of light with zero distortion, long eye-relief, and a manual brightness override that allows you to easily adjust the brightness of your aiming point. An aircraft-grade aluminum body and matte-black finish ensures this scope is durable and perfectly suited for any hunting situation. A set of lens caps, Trijicon LensPen cleaning tool, and Trijicon’s lifetime warranty are included.

Free to one entrant, this scope retails for $815. For more information on Trijicon’s AccuPoint line of riflescopes, visit www.trijicon.com.

Online registration is currently underway for the 10th Annual Youth Dove Hunts that are in the North Zone. Registration for the South Zone hunts will open on Sept. 20. South Zone counties include Baldwin, Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Mobile counties; all other counties are in the North Zone. The event is sponsored by the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) with support from many partners.

North Zone hunts begin Sept. 4, and South Zone hunts begin Oct. 2. There is no cost to participate in the hunts. However, pre-registration is necessary for all youth dove hunts. Hunt schedules and registration information is available at www.outdooralabama.com/hunting/youth-hunts/youthdove.cfm.

Online registration is encouraged, but interested participants without Internet access will be allowed to register by calling their WFF district office listed in the hunt schedule. A district office employee will complete the electronic registration form for you over the phone.

Hey, Kentucky kids! Looking for some challenging shooting and delicious dove meat? Registration begins next Monday, Aug. 16, for the mentor/youth dove hunts on Saturday, Sept. 4. Those interested in reserving a slot must call 1-800-858-1549 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time between Aug. 16 and Aug. 27 to register.

The mentor/youth dove hunts lend an opportunity for adult mentors to introduce youth aged 15 years and under to the joy of a productive early season dove hunt.

Dove season opens Sept. 1 and closes Oct. 24 for the first segment. The second segment of dove season opens Nov. 25 and runs until Dec. 3. The third segment opens Jan. 1 and closes Jan. 7, 2011.

The mentor/youth hunts are popular and those wanting slots should register early. One adult mentor may take two youths to these hunts. Hunter education and licensing requirements apply to those participating in the mentor/youth dove hunts.

Shooting hours run from 2 to 7 p.m. Sept. 4. Mentor/youth dove fields are closed Sept. 1 - 3. Mentor/youth fields located on wildlife management areas are open to public hunting Sept. 5 through Oct. 24. Fields located on private land are open to public hunting Sept. 6 and open again Sept. 11 through Oct. 24.

For more information on the mentor/youth dove hunts, consult the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow available on the Internet at fw.ky.gov and also soon available in booklet form wherever hunting licenses are sold.

Editor’s Note: Want to hear more about dove hunting? Keep your eyes peeled for the September issue of InSights for tips and tricks you’ll need in the dove fields!

Ask any scout at the 2010 National Jamboree about his favorite activity and you’ll get a virtually unanimous answer, shooting. At this year’s 100th Anniversary Jamboree, airgun shooting is the domain of Crosman Corporation. Long known for innovation and quality in the shooting sports, Crosman began working with the Boy Scouts of America in the 1980s as a provider of airguns and advisors for their shooting programs.

One shooting activity commonly revisited by scouts was the Crosman Bikathlon. This shooting and cycling event has been a mainstay of this and past National Jamborees. “The Bikathlon requires scouts to ride a bicycle along a timed course, stopping to shoot a Crosman air rifle at a target, and then continuing on the bike to the finish line. While speed on the course is important, accuracy on the range makes all the difference for the competitors,” said Bob Soldivera, Crosman’s shooting services prostaffer. “The great thing about the Bikathlon is that it can be set up in a parking lot as easily as it can be placed in the woods. This Jamboree afforded more than 23,000 scouts a chance to learn about shooting safely in a relatively short period of time. The 2010 National Jamboree had four Bikathlon courses that were constantly busy.”

Other Jamboree shooting venues using Crosman air rifles included air rifle ranges at the four Action Centers which put through about 22,000 shooters, the Exploring and Venturing air rifle ranges that handled about 18,000 shooters, and the Boy’s Life range with about 12,000 shooters. Said Soldivera, “Over 1,000,000 Crosman pellets were shot during the Jamboree. That’s a lot of smiling scouts.”

The 30-year partnership of Crosman and Scouting has fostered shooting as a lifetime sport. In fact, in January of 2010, the Boy Scouts of America received the prestigious Crosman Friend of Youth Shooting Award, presented annually to “an organization or individual whose commitment to excellence in youth shooter education and dedication to a lifetime of safe shooting, has enhanced the future of the sport.”

For further information on Crosman Corporation or on any Crosman, Benjamin, CenterPoint Hunting and Outdoors Precision Optics and Archery, or Game Face Airsoft products, visit the company’s website at www.crosman.com, www.centerpointhunting.com, www.gamefaceairsoft.com,

The World Shooting and Recreation Complex in Sparta, Ill., hosted the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) National Championship, July 21-24, 2010. Thanks to the support of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and sponsors such as White Flyer, Browning, Beretta, Remington, Winchester, Ruger and Federal, youth shooting teams from across the country were able to compete and capture medals and national honors.

Over the three-day competition, approximately 1,500 kids competed in trap, skeet and sporting clays. Teams from South Carolina led the pack with eight trophies, followed by Arizona and Tennessee grabbing seven trophies each, while Georgia, Iowa and Nebraska teams garnered five trophies each. Overall, 28 states were represented with Illinois leading with 317 shooters, followed by Tennessee with 289 shooters.

Browning sponsored the crowd-pleasing Last Competitor Standing event which drew 273 young shooters, all vying for the coveted title of “Last Competitor Standing” and a prized new Browning shotgun. Sixth-grader Jack Criner, a member of the Mulberry Grove Aces Team of Coffeen, Ill., earned the title Browning’s Last Competitor Standing.

The National Championship wrapped up on Saturday with the final competitions in trap and skeet, along with the closing ceremonies. Olympic Gold Medal winner and former SCTP participant Kim Rhode was the special guest speaker. Along with Rhode, who represented Winchester, presenters from Remington, White Flyer and Browning were on hand to award medals and trophies to the winners.

Interim Executive Director, Russ Arnold said “The 2010 SCTP National Team Championships were outstanding. I have never seen so many wonderful young ladies and gentlemen gather together in one place. The sportsmanship displayed by the shooters and coaches is an example of what the SCTP Program has always been about-”making great kids through shotgun sports.” We cannot thank the many adult volunteers enough for their hard work and dedication that not only make the National Shoot a success, but the SCTP program as a whole. I am proud to be associated with and to have the opportunity to lead this program.”

About The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is an educational-athletic organization that exists to introduce school-age youths to the clay target sports and to facilitate their continued involvement by providing, promoting, and perpetuating opportunities to safely and enjoyably participate and compete in a high-quality, team-based sport led by trained adult coaches focused on enhancing the personal growth and development of their athletes. To learn more about SSSF or how your company can become a donor, visit their website at www.sssfonline.org

The 2010 National 4-H Shooting Sports Invitational June 28 - July 3 in Kerrville, Texas set a new record with 516 4-H youth participants representing 31 States. Total event attendance including participants, coaches, parents, family members and 4-H Faculty & Volunteers was estimated at 1500. State teams and individual 4-H youth competed throughout the week demonstrating their skills in Shotgun, Air Rifle, Air Pistol, Smallbore Rifle, Smallbore Pistol, Compound Archery, Recurve Archery, Muzzleloading Rifle and the Hunting Skills, Wildlife ID/Mangement & Decision Making.

For additional information about 4-H Shooting Sports programs visit www.4-hshootingsports.org

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