STORY BY P.J. PEREA
PHOTOS BY ADELE HODDE

The two 12-year-old girls talked excitedly as they waited for their dads, Bob Bitters and Dave Fulton of Millstadt, to unload their gear so they could head into the fields.

On the surface, it appeared to be a pretty typical outing for the group and a dog named Savvy. But, today, Cindy Bitters and Morgan Parkhurst had game on their minds, specifically the brilliantly colored winged kind—the ring-necked pheasant. They were taking part in the Department of Natural Resources' youth pheasant hunt at Eldon Hazlet State Park.

"Find the bird, Savvy!" Morgan urged as her dog sniffed, searching for the trail of a pheasant hiding in the golden-colored grass.

Unable to elude the dog, the bird took off in a noisy explosion of cackling and fast, hollow-sounding wing-beats. Both girls were caught out of position as the bird glided into a sunflower field and ran to the safety of another patch of grass.

"We'll find another one," Fulton assured his daughter.

He was right because both youngsters took aim at several more pheasants, but no shots hit their mark. Unfazed by their lack of success, the girls prodded Savvy to find more birds. As luck would have it, a wayward pointer, separated from another youth hunting party, joined the group. He instantly zeroed in on a pheasant hiding under a brush pile.

Morgan set up on the bird and gave the okay for the mystery dog to flush the hidden pheasant. The bird flapped out of the pile, and Morgan took her best shot. A puff of feathers indicated that she winged the bird, and Savvy was quick to chase after the quarry.

"I think I see it up in the tree!" Morgan yelled as Savvy barked excitedly.

A few misses followed for both Cindy and Morgan, probably due in part to their excitement at the thought of getting their first bird. With encouragement from her dad, Morgan remembered her wing-shooting instructions and successfully harvested her first pheasant.

DNR's John Bunnell, the park's site interpreter and an organizer of the event, joined the group and immediately recognized the mystery dog. After returning the wayward pooch to a friend, he offered

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A prehunt safety discussion is held with young hunters at all youth hunts.

Greg Cavitt and his dog, Gretchen, wait for a pheasant to take wing.

the services of his own dog, Molly, to help Savvy find a bird for Cindy.

"Molly, find a bird!" Bunnell shouted as his energized dog zipped back and forth. Molly quickly cornered a bird and went on point.

"Get ready, Cindy," Bunnell said as he moved forward to flush the bird.

A tradition at risk Conservation police officers, wildlife program managers, hunting industry leaders, adult hunters and outdoor journalists all have noted a significant decline in youth participation in hunting during the past decade. To stem the tide, DNR has created many programs for hunters and their children. Without the help of organizations, volunteers and sponsors, many of them would not exist. DNR thanks everyone for their role in keeping the sport of hunting alive. For this particular hunt, Winchester Ammunition donated shotgun shells, and Purina provided treats for dogs. The Skillet Fork Chapter of Quail Unlimited provided guides and dogs. Don't forget that donations to the Illinois Conservation Foundation can be designated to programs such as this DNR youth pheasant hunt. For more information, contact John Schmitt, the Foundation's executive director, at (312) 814-7237 or email jschmitt@dnrmail.state.il.us.

The familiar flutter of an escaping pheasant erupted from the grass as Cindy lined up her sights and squeezed the trigger. Molly immediately took off after the shot, and tracked down Cindy's downed bird, a hen pheasant.

A half mile away, Jeff Cavitt and his son, Greg, walked a cornfield edge with their dog, Gretchen. The elder Cavitt explained that this was his son's second season of pheasant hunting. Unable to harvest a bird in the prior year, Greg spent much of the summer practicing on clay targets in preparation for this year's hunt.

He seemed a little discouraged after hiking much of the morning and seeing few birds. That mood was short-lived when his preseason practice paid off handsomely. A hen pheasant crossed his path and was easily dispatched, followed by a rooster an hour later.

Both father and son were quite happy as they turned Greg's birds into the check station for tagging. And, a dejected young hunter, lacking Greg's luck, left the station with a big smile on his face after the Cavitts donated one of their birds to him.

"We really want every kid to go away with a positive experience," Bunnell said.

It seems to be working as Cindy, Morgan and Greg are all hunting this fall, continuing a new tradition that started when their parents took them out for a walk in the field with their dogs.

Upcoming events Youth pheasant hunts—Call 1-800-867-3547 or (888) 673-7648 for reservation information on hunts scheduled for Nov. 3-17. Internet applications are not available. Youth duck hunt—Donnelly DePue SWA, Nov. 9-10. Applications accepted thru Oct. 19. Download application at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/index.htm or phone (217) 785-8955. Youth goose hunts—Union County, Horseshoe Lake and participating clubs of Southern Illinois Quota Zone, Dec. 26-27. Applications accepted thru Oct. 19. Call (217) 785-8955 or download application at http://dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/index.htm. Central Illinois goose hunt—in cooperation with Tri-County Ducks and Geese. Tentatively scheduled for December. Call (217) 785-8955. Statewide youth deer hunt—Oct. 12-13. Applications no longer accepted. Call (217) 782-7305 or access the DNR website for information about 2003 event. Youth turkey hunt—Youths, under age 16, will be selected by lottery to participate in a two-day spring event. Applications will be available in November. For more information, call (217) 782-7305.

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