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Kim Fundingsland/MDN - - It was easy for Nick Nesdahl, 14, Minot, to find a reason to smile after coming out of the field with two rooster pheasants and one partridge during the Pheasants for the Future Youth Pheasant Hunt conducted Oct. 4 southwest of Minot.

 Pheasants for the Future

Members of Minot's Pheasants For The Future weren't sure what kind of response they would get when they decided to host a "youth only" pheasant hunt Oct. 4, set to coincide with the opening of North Dakota's youth-only pheasant season.

As it turned out, the response was excellent and the results were thrilling for a number of area youth who were elated to have a chance, and a place, to hunt.

The organized hunt was conducted at the Pheasants For The Future youth hunting area located a short distance southwest of Minot. About 40 youngsters signed up for the hunt. Their day got started with a review of gun safety conducted by state certified gun safety instructors. After that, it was time to hunt.

Among the first of the young hunters to take to the field was Alaynee Thompson of Minot. She was accompanied by mother Nancy Mahoney, hunter education instructor Tom Kelsh of Minot and Gussie, Kelsh's English cocker. It wasn't long before Gussie got scent and a rooster rose into the air. Thompson proved to be more than ready for the challenge.

"They flew from the dog and I shot two pheasants," said an obviously happy Thompson as she emerged from the field. "Those are my first birds."

"She just loves hunting and this is an opportunity for her and I to get out by ourselves," Mahoney said. "She does a really good job shooting, but this was her first time on pheasants. It's a very good opportunity for the youth to come out. There's dogs out here to flush the birds out for them and everything."

"I like it," Kelsh said. "Here they can actually learn a bit about hunting and they've done very well at it. Kids are the start for the next generation. I've seen a lot of kids who were in class this year and moms and dads who were in class before."

Great day

The Oct. 4 hunt also marked a first for the local Pheasants For The Future organization, one of the largest organizations in the state. They had plenty of volunteers on hand to help, making the day go much easier than otherwise expected.

"This is awesome," said Jason Foss, club president, watching young hunters walk through tall grass in search of pheasants. "The North Dakota Game and Fish Department had some grant money for youth programs and that was very helpful. We've had dog work, first-time flushes in front of kids and a lot of excitement. I've watched fathers actually get more excited than the sons."

One of the excited parents was Chuck Nesdahl of Minot. He had his son and Echo, his English setter, in the field. They got an extra surprise when a covey of partridge unexpectedly took flight.

"They got up as a group and the kids all looked at them as they flew away," Nesdahl said, laughing. "Luckily two more got up a little later and we got one of those. That was a highlight. It was great. We had a lot of fun out there."

"It was neat, I liked it," said Nick Nesdahl, holding up two pheasants and a partridge. "We had a couple of birds get kicked up before us we didn't get, but otherwise I think we did good."

Sammy Kemaldean, 14, Minot, was in the field at the same time. Like the others, he hesitated when the partridge got up. They were too far away for a shot by the time he realized what kinds of birds they were. It was good lesson for the young hunter and one which is taught during hunter safety classes don't shoot when you are not certain of your target.

"I could have done better," Kemaldean said. "I should have had a couple of roosters."

Kemaldean couldn't be completely disappointed. According to observers, he had very likely doubled up on a rooster that got up in front of him and Nesdahl. In the spirit of sportsmanship, Nesdahl turned one of the colorful birds over to Kemaldean as they left the field. It was another example of the value of hosting a youth hunting event.

"That's what the club's about, seeing the kids get some birds and have some fun," said Doug McHenry, volunteer. "It's about teaching youth and getting kids involved and having a good time in the field. You bet it is."

Stories

As kids left the field and joined the large group of observers, lots of stories were being told about the day's hunt. The level of excitement was obvious. Now, after listening to their mothers and fathers tell stories of the hunt, the youth had a few of their own and they were excited to tell the tales.

"We started out down the fence and got a couple of shots," said Jake Luedke, 14, Minot. "Then one popped up and I was right on. That was my first bird!"

"Wow!" said Patrick Nemceff, 12, Minot Air Force Base. "One flew up and I missed, but it went down with the second shot. Then we had to convince the dog to give it up."

Brother Nikolas Nemceff, 10, didn't have a rooster in his hunting vest but he did have a partridge. It was the first bird he had ever taken in the field and, quite understandably, he was not disappointed.

Pheasants For The Future has been raising money for youth activities for several years, sponsoring kids to wildlife camps and donating to wildlife related youth causes whenever suitable. Perhaps their biggest contribution to young pheasant hunters is land that the club has been able to set aside for "youth only" hunting. The Oct. 4 hunt was held on club managed land a few miles southwest of Minot.

"Doug Hauge has authorized us to post this land for youth hunting only for Pheasants For The Future members with kids," Foss said. "Kids are the only ones that can carry a shotgun. It's open the entire pheasant season. We've got another one over by Balfour, one south of Berthold and near Max. It's really neat."

Further information on the Pheasants for the Future youth hunting areas can be found at (http://pftf.org).