Youth Programs

Minnesota's Next Pheasant Hunters

Pheasants Forever believes the future of conservation and our hunting heritage depends upon today’s youth having the desire and opportunities to carry on the ethical traditions of this organization. At both the national and chapter level, Pheasants Forever is investing in sound programs enriched with events such as youth mentor hunts, conservation events and habitat projects. Below you'll find information about the wide range of youth programming Metro Area PF provides metro area youth. From wing shooting training, providing mentored hunt opportunities, or sponsoring local high school trap teams Metro Area PF strives to reach and involve youth in our state's rich hunting tradition, igniting passions and creating future conservations to ensure a strong pheasant hunting and habitat legacy.

Metro Area PF 5 Step Shooting System

Our shooting system is specifically designed to pass on the fun and excitement of wing shooting to youth by building upon five simple steps for success. We are passionate about passing the tradition of wing shooting, our sport's future, on to our youth!

Our shooting system is a quick effective starting block for young shooters to build their shooting skills with.

Each step moves seamlessly to the next and culminates in a natural easy system for young shooters, which helps them to start hitting more targets. It's easy to use and easy to remember.

Participants will learn and practice with our team a simple, five step shooting system:

  1. Establish dominant eye and incorporate opposite hand pointing and leaning

  2. Foot position and leaning

  3. Proper stock mount and pointing

  4. Shooting simulation with clays

  5. Gun/live ammo and clays

There are three intro sessions each summer. All three sessions are identical. Students are encouraged to shoot at all three sessions during the summer. Students who complete at least two of the three summer sessions will qualify to apply for our Learn to Hunt program the following year. If you intend to do multiple sessions, you must sign up for each session individually: Introduction to wingshooting, Wingshooting Session 2, and Wingshooting Session 3.

This program is completely free to students. We provide the shotguns, shells, clay targets, and instruction. 

Learn to Hunt Program

This program requires students to have first completed our Wingshooting Program and also to have completed MN DNR gun safety. The goal of Learn to Hunt is to develop all the skills necessary to hunt safely on your own. Students will be expected to watch online videos at home (homework!) in order to maximize class time shooting and being afield. This program is divided into three sessions, in order to be invited to hunt real birds students must signup for and attend at least two of the three sessions.   The material covered will change from week to week with an emphasis on developing shooting skills at the clay target range. Students who complete the class will be invited a pheasant hunt in Marshall, MN. behind our dogs in cooperation with the Lyon County PF Chapter's mentored-hunt day in October. There is a $30 non-refundable fee for participating in this program, payable at the door by cash or check at session one.

2025 Dates

Sunday’s Noon - 2 pm

May 18th, July 13th, Aug 10th

Topics Covered in Learn to Hunt

  • Review the 5 step program

  • Practice safety afield (fence crossing, shooting lanes, line hunting)

  • Learn safety with all types of shotguns

  • Learn instinctive shooting basics as taught by Robert Churchill

  • Practice shooting "pheasant type" targets (straight, quartering, & crossing) 

  • Introduction to flushers and pointers

  • Basic map work to find public hunting (OnX, map books, DNR websites)

  • Doing a three-person line hunt afield.

  • Clothing options for hunting

  • Cleaning and cooking pheasants and grouse

  • How to read a field 

This is an "invitation only" program. The vast majority of students who get to take Learn to Hunt are graduates of our entry-level program: Learn to Shoot.  We do make exceptions depending on the age and experience level of the individual. If you wish to apply, you need to talk to Steve Gnoza, Learn to Hunt director. Learn to hunt is a three-session program; you must attend two out of three in order to qualify for the hunts, but attending all three is highly recommended. A Minnesota gun safety certificate is required for all participants in Learn to Hunt.

Hunter videos for Learn to Hunt

General rules for safe hunting - https://youtu.be/tWyIL9hNwBM

Pheasant & Upland Hunting basics - https://youtu.be/i6pwpakPcuo

Safely hunting with others - https://youtu.be/ZbZmKbT9PYs

Safe Handling: Holding a shotgun - https://youtu.be/Uxk26w36fcg

How to load shotguns - https://youtu.be/aaGMxE6AeHE

Best Gear for pheasant hunting - https://youtu.be/acPSSiqwXH0

Hunting over a pointing dog - https://youtu.be/79uIiW0qTWo

Hunting over a flushing dog - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GErwxooT1eQ?feature=share

Learning instinctive shooting - https://youtu.be/V5_XdpRFUUM

How to clean birds - https://youtu.be/hTSJxTlZwDE

Another good one on cleaning birds - https://youtu.be/YtAA3-9iXo0