Game and Fish announce upcoming youth and family pheasant hunts

The Sheridan Regional Office of the Wyoming Game and Fish reports youth hunters have the opportunity to hunt pheasants at two popular annual events in the region in November – the Bud Love Youth Pheasant Hunt and the Fort Phil Kearny Family Pheasant Hunt. 

Bud Love WHMA Youth Hunt

Game and Fish report the ninth annual youth-only pheasant hunt on the Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area near Buffalo will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16. On this day, pheasant hunting is restricted to youth only on all lands contained within the Bud Love Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Adult hunters may access Bud Love WHMA that day to hunt other species or assist youth hunters, but may not hunt pheasants.

According to the department, youth hunters are defined as ages 17 and under. There is no limit on the number of youth hunters allowed at the Bud Love WHMA that day and they can come and go throughout the day.  

All pheasant hunters on the Bud Love WHMA are required to wear one piece of fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing while hunting such as a hat, vest, jacket or other visible garment.

Fort Phil Kearny Family Pheasant Hunt

Fort Phil Kearny will have its annual Family Pheasant Hunt Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. The fort is a Hunter Management Area in the Game and Fish’s Access Yes program.

There is no need to pre-register for the event, but please read and be familiar with the ranch rules before arriving on the fort grounds. Hunters can come and go throughout the day. Adults are allowed and encouraged to hunt and harvest pheasants alongside youth hunters. 

Except on the specified family pheasant hunt days, permission slips are required for hunting at the fort. You can get these through the Game and Fish website by logging into your Game and Fish account, clicking the public access tab and then HMA tab.

Resident hunters under the age of 14 do not need a bird license or conservation stamp but must be accompanied by an adult. However, the adult is not allowed to take pheasants that day. Nonresident youth are welcome to participate, but regulations differ for resident and nonresident hunters. Please refer to the 2024 Upland Game Bird and Small Game regulation booklet or contact the Sheridan Regional Office for more details.

All hunters, regardless of age, are required to have a Pheasant Special Management Stamp. It is $15.50 and available online or at the Game and Fish Office and license selling agents.  

Additionally, participating youth hunters must have successfully completed a Hunter Safety Course or be eligible for an exemption outlined in the regulation booklet under ‘hunter safety/temporary exemption’. 

Each adult must pay the fort entrance fee of $4 for Wyoming residents and $8 for non-residents. Youth under 18 are free. The fee can be paid by credit card at the self help kiosk or by cash at the fee canister, both located near the fort’s stockade entrance. Holders of an annual state parks pass can display the pass in their windshield and are not required to pay for the additional day-use fee.