Release the pheasants. Thanks to a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Knox County Fish and Game Association will be releasing pheasants for youth hunters beginning this weekend.
“The ODNR Conservation Club grant of $5000 should pay for about 400 pheasants,” Bill Buskirk, president of the Knox County Fish and Game Association said.
Releases will take place over the course of the youth hunting season beginning this weekend.
Buskirk will do the releases himself and said he can carry about 72 pheasants at a time for setting out in the wild.
“We will start releasing today (Oct. 23) for youth hunting and then release birds next Saturday (Oct. 30). Bird releases will also take place on adult hunting opening day, Nov. 4, as well as Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving. We also may release in December," he said.
The pheasant disseminations will take place in the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area, and the birds are provided by Elkhorn Farms & Hatchery in Bucyrus. To get to the Kokosing Lake Wildlife Area, travel two miles northwest of Fredericktown on Waterford Road (County Road 6).
“Last year, we had 21 youths come out for the two Youth Days of hunting, and each hunter came back with at least one bird," Buskirk said. "There is a two-bird limit.”
Hunters must be youth-licensed or apprentice-licensed to participate, and all ODNR laws are to be observed.
Youth bird hunting licenses are set at $10, and adult licenses cost $19 for one year each. Lifetime licenses for residents are set at $468.
“We also have two dogs and dog handlers for those interested," Buskirk said. "One-on-one hunting with dog and mentor will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis."
The Knox County Fish and Game Association Inc. Is the oldest conservation group in Knox County. Its mission is to encourage, educate and promote both youth and adults by engaging them in conservation, wildlife and the outdoors. Call Buskirk at 740-358-9840 or Rick Kennedy at 740-324-0643 for more information.
