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Forty-one youths, the second highest number ever, recently turned out at Rocky Bay Kennel and Hunt Club near Pine City for the 11th annual Chisago County Pheasants Forever youth hunt.

A low fog lifted on the extra early start to beat the later heat, but it didn't dampen enthusiasm, noted Tim Kane, chapter president.

"You should have seen the smile on the face of a youngster whose parents are not hunters but he got there and bagged his first rooster pheasant. That's the kind of experience that hooks youth on the outdoors, hunting and conservation," Kane declared.

"Improving habitat for pheasants and other wildlife is the first goal of Pheasants Forever, but introducing the next generation of youth to carry on the hunting and conservation legacy is another major priority."

Howard Vincent, president and CEO of the national organization, agrees. "It's a commonly known fact that we are losing America's next generation of farmers, hunters and conservationists to an urban lifestyle occupied by video games, the Internet and television. We believe it's critically important to reconnect today's youngsters with the outdoors.

"That's why," Vincent continued, "Pheasants Forever is readying the next generation of conservationists with its No Child Left Indoors initiative, part of a national movement aimed at getting youth unplugged somewhat from electronics and turned on to the outdoors, nature and wildlife again."

The annual youth hunt again featured a strong gun safety talk before the hunt start, a round of sporting clays target shooting and a bird hunt for pheasants and chukar partridge with a guide and trained pointing dog, free shotgun shells, a PF blaze orange hat and lunch for participants.

PF members Jon Olson, Jeff Egelkraut and Jason Stepp were event coordinators. Polaris Industries donated $250 toward the hunt expenses.

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