Youth Pheasant Program

The Alberta Youth Pheasant Program was started years ago by the Sarcee Fish and Game. It was passed on to the Red Deer Fish and Game and continues to be an exciting program for first time hunters. It is open to all youth from 12 to 18 years old. Our season starts in the first or second week of September, and runs every Saturday during the fall. Participants only have to bring their lunch, appropriate footwear, a knife and outdoor wear. Through the Alberta Youth Pheasant Program, aspiring young hunters have a chance to experience bird game hunting and safe gun handling, while being mentored by qualified outdoorsmen.

The youth who have gone through this program have shown a lot of enthusiasm. In the past, this program has had as many as 100 students per year taking advantage of the course.

Each student learns shotgun patterns, clay pigeon shooting, safe gun control, and game cleaning. While hunting the released pheasants, each young hunter is accompanied by a mentor to ensure proper gun control and safety. Dog handlers, with well trained dogs, are also in the field to help retrieve the birds for the participants. The young hunters gain first-hand knowledge of bird hunting with dogs and a respect for wildlife and habitat conservation.

RDFG Will Supply

Equipment and ammunition
Instructors
Safety Gear

You Need To Bring

Cost

The program is Free BUT the participants must be a member of Alberta Fish and Game through Red Deer Fish and Game or any other club affiliated with Alberta Fish and Game, or purchase a RDFG Youth membership for $25.

Junior Shooters Program

The Red Deer Fish and Game Junior Shooters program is designed to teach precision shooting in a fun relaxed environment. The focus is primarily on 10m ISSF style air shooting, throughout the year there is also times we will focus on .22 shooting as well. We focus on safety and many fundamental shooting skills. Shooters are encouraged to participate in competitions when they are competent and ready to do so. The Red Deer Fish and Game association has been well represented in the past at many competitions outside of Alberta including the Canada Winter Games and the Air Gun Grand Prix.

Requirements for participation

• 9 years or older (Must have the mental maturity to be safe and follow directions at the gun range, as well as the physical size to handle a rifle)
• A member of the Red Deer Fish and Game association
• Firearms, ammo, ear and eye protection will be provided by the club but you are welcome to bring your own eye and ear protection

Black Powder Program

The Black Powder activities sponsored by RDFG are to support the sport of Muzzle Loading and associated Rendezvous activities. This is done through organized competition with a trail walk (shooting various targets) using muzzle loading rifles, primitive bows and hawk & knives at the RDFG Habitat Land. We try to design our activities to support the beginner through the senior so we can all have a safe, fun time.

These Rendezvous are held each year in May and September. There may be activities on Fridays that are in addition to the trail walk. You can register on Friday night or Saturday morning. The Rendezvous events start Saturday morning and end on Sundays. We have competitors from all over the Province as well as some from other Provinces.

We will hold beginning Black Powder sessions for first time competitors, and will ask them to participate in the trail walk with other experienced shooters. The norm is to have 4 shooters per group, and we are all responsible to each other for safety as well as having a good time.

For beginning junior competitors, we allow the junior to shoot with a 22 rim fire, if accompanied by an adult.

Some level of costume is encouraged, but not required.

Contact: Wody Verhappen @ 403-350-3499 or wody.verhappen@reddeerfishandgame.com