By: Ron Wilson

November 14, 2002.... The Central Valley Chapter of Safari Club International held there annual junior pheasant hunt at the Mapes Ranch last weekend. 

Karl Snyder and sons Tyler and Trent, of Waterford, along with Todd Heinrich and his son Austin, of west Modesto, were just some of the 100 youths that had been lucky enough to be drawn to hunt this event. 

The cost to the youths was nothing and they were given drinks and food before and after the hunt by the Central Valley Chapter. 

The birds cost the club a couple thousands dollars, which did not include all the food and drinks and other goodies supplied by the club for this event. The money was raised last year through their annual fund raising dinner. 

My son Donald, grandson Derick and myself brought our dogs to help the youngsters find the birds. Our reward was just being able to watch the dogs work. However, Derick is a hands on lad that wants to be hunting. He doesn't get that much enjoyment out of walking through pastures without a gun in his hands, which I can't blame him. 

I always enjoy meeting future hunters and I like to see how well there parents have trained them in gun safety. Also, how well they watch their kids in the field. Small things like always keeping the business end of the gun pointed in a safe direction, keeping in a line so that there is a safe zone to shoot the birds once they are flushed etc. etc. The boys did a pretty good job with a few reminders every now and then from dads Karl and Todd. 

The highlight of the day for me and probably Karl was when my dog Sierra pointed a rooster pheasant and the boys moved into position to shoot as Donald's dog Shrek moved in and jumped the pheasant. The bird came by Tyler and he raised and fired hitting it in the tail end. The bird flew a short distance and Cleo Donald's white lab made the retrieve. 

The highlight for Donald was watching Shrek jump a pheasant that was wet and couldn't fly. Shrek then chased it and when it finally lit about 100 yards away he trailed it up and caught the bird. This was a no no in our books, but when we are training our dogs for all around hunting, we pretty much give them freedom to see what they will do with it and how well they respond to each situation on there own. 

So far my newest dog, Gunner, hasn't showed me much, but he is vary observant and watches everything that we an the other dogs do, so I still have hopes for him. Trent was a real trooper and I was impressed with the lads stamina. Austin is coming along fine and in a year or two will make Todd a fine hunting partner! 

If you have a young son or daughter or grandson or granddaughter you might want to start checking early next spring on the DFG's website for youth hunts to apply for, so that you can get them involved in our great outdoors.