Late Season Pa Pheasant Hunt

[Stan Hoover]

As I had promised my nephew before Christmas, we went after pheasants yesterday, I had one happy nephew
I wasn’t certain of his level of shooting, but was mildly surprised when he harvested a hen first and then a cockbird, each with a single shot. I know he had some experience with shooting small game with his 22, but wasn’t sure how much experience he had with a shotgun since neither his father or older brother hunt.
Pics 3 & 4 are of the 1902 Ithaca Lewis that took its first pheasant since I’ve had it, I actually purchased this one on the forum here. I chose to use the 32” Crown Steel barrels this day, this gun also has original 30” Damascus barrels. It was ordered as a 2 barrel set.

[6pt-Sika]

Very nice ! Is that place in Lancaster county ? Wait you were hunting state game lands or preserve ?

[Stan Hoover]

Yes it is Craig,
These were actually birds raised by myself and father in law for our our local sportsmens club. We then stock them on local farms that allow public hunting.

[Stan Hillis]

Fine looking young fellow. Good on you for taking him.

[mobirdhunter]

Good on you for taking that young man hunting. (And that’s a very nice Ithaca to lend some more character to the occasion.)

[charlie cleveland]

great shooting by that young man... and with a fine gun....charlie

[Craig Larter]

Every year we hold a youth hunt at our duck club. Normally the ducks are thick as mosquitos with woodies and widgeon. Over the last decade I would say close to 100% of our youth hunters have become waterfowl hunters. The best year was when the female youth hunters out shot the males, made me believe our sport will continue on.
Nice of you Stan to do what you do to keep pheasant hunting alive in PA.

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Craig Larter

Every year we hold a youth hunt at our duck club. Normally the ducks are thick as mosquitos with woodies and widgeon. Over the last decade I would say close to 100% of our youth hunters have become waterfowl hunters. The best year was when the female youth hunters out shot the males, made me believe our sport will continue on.
Nice of you Stan to do what you do to keep pheasant hunting alive in PA.

Craig, I think you are so right about female hunters and the future. I taught a Conservation and Hunting college course for several years before I retired. If I learned anything it was that if you create a female hunter, you get the family to follow. It's an exponential gain.

Great work, Craig and Stan, to introduce young hunters to this life we cherish so much, and which has been so beneficial to conservation in America.