NO REASON FOR PHEASANT HUNTERS TO LEAVE STATE.

Byline: Rochelle Kaplan Special to the Daily News

Iowa and South Dakota may have the largest populations of upland game in the country, but the California Department of Fish and Game is determined to keep hunters from straying out of the state through creative outreach programs.

Statewide special wild pheasant hunts have been designed for families, juniors and women by the DFG's Game Bird Heritage Program to attract interest in the sport. Pheasant season runs from Nov. 8 to Dec. 7.

``We want to give families the quality experience to be had in the field in California like they have in the Midwest,'' said DFG wildlife biologist John Massey, who said the Golden State has 200,000 male pheasants - the gender shooters must target - compared to the 1 million roosters in Iowa and South Dakota. ``And with the state underwriting two-thirds of the cost, it's going to be very affordable.

While many of the special hunts are free, those staged on private property cost $12. (Regular hunting fees average $40 at private clubs.) Participants will also need to purchase a hunting license - $27.05 for adults ($94.75 for non-residents) and $6.85 for juniors 15 and younger - plus a $6.05 upland game-bird stamp.

From two to six family members may take advantage of the special family hunts, as long as one person in the group is an established hunter. An in-depth orientation and careful instruction on how to shoot the birds will be given at the sites. Representatives from various water-dog clubs also will offer advice.

However, Massey suggests that would-be hunters spend at least a day beforehand at a trap and skeet club ``breaking clay pigeons to get used to hitting low-flying objects.''

Several special pheasant hunts will take place in Southern California.

Palo Verde Rod and Gun Club near Blythe in Riverside County can take 1,500 hunters for its family hunts Nov. 15, 16, 22 and 23 and an unlimited number of shooters for its free junior hunts Dec. 6 and 7. For reservations, call [phone]. The Optimists Club of El Centro, [phone], in Imperial County can hold 100 hunters for its family hunt Nov. 29.

Among other regional pheasant hunts: For juniors, San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside County, Nov. 9, [phone]; Raahauge's Game Bird Club, Norco, Riverside County, Nov. 15, [phone]; Lake Isabella, Kern County, Nov. 22 and 23, [phone]. For women: Gustine, Merced County, Nov. 22, [phone], ext. 132 or 133.

(For details on other special pheasant hunts throughout the state, call the DFG's 24-hour information recording, [phone], then push 1, then 4, then 3, or call [phone] to speak with a DFG representative.)

The presence of wild pheasants in California dates back to the late 19th century, when several varieties were introduced from China and other parts of Eastern Asia. Only the ring-necked pheasant was successful in establishing breeding populations. The first hunting season began in 1925 in the Owens Valley. The first state-wide season commenced in 1933.

Easily recognizable, the male, or rooster, has a white ring around its neck and red patches over its eyes. Its russet-colored breast is flanked by spotted feathers and a long, barred tail. While drab in appearance, the hen's mottled, brown feathers offer her protection from predators.

Hunting in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys look ``fairly favorable,'' according to Sacramento-based DFG wildlife biologist Sam Blankenship, while Grizzly Island in Solano County, a popular hunting spot, ``didn't show good reproduction this year.''

Likewise, an abundance of birds is not expected in the southern regions, according to Tom Paulek, the DFG's San Jacinto Wildlife Area manager. As such, hunters without reservations should have a good chance of getting into the wildlife areas on a first-come, first-serve basis.

``The lack of rain created a poor insect crop, which the chicks rely on for food up to six weeks of age,'' Paulek said. ``That, and nest predation on the eggs by weasels, possums, skunks and snakes, resulted in a poor hatch this year.''

True to their habitat in China, the wild birds live in wetlands, hiding in cattails and other heavy cover. Accordingly, to be successful at bagging them, hunters must ``think like a duck hunter,'' Massey said. That means utilizing a trained water dog.

``You've got to hunt with a dog because the wild birds are wary of people,'' Blankenship said. ``They hold tight and try to hide and hope the predator will pass them by. The dogs smell them and flush them out.''

Wild pheasant hunters use an array of shotguns (as small as a .410 to as large as a 12-gauge) with shot sizes varying as small as 7-1/2 to as large as 4. Blankenship said his 14-year-old son loves his double-barreled .410 for pheasant hunting while preferring a 20-gauge gun for pigeons.

While the younger Blankenship is fortunate to have a biologist/hunter for a father, not all children his age have such a mentor. That's precisely why the DFG created its junior hunting programs. In addition to the DFG co-sponsoring the events, local hunting clubs and other organizations offer assistance by providing volunteers to help children in the field.

``With the special hunts, you get a more controlled environment. And with (the added help of) the dogs, you get more opportunity to get a bird,'' Blankenship said. ``For the child who doesn't have someone in the family who hunts, it's a great opportunity for them. It's really positive for the kids.''

For more information on wild pheasant hunts, refer to the California Hunting Regulations handbook for resident game birds.

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Photo: (color) State officials are offering special pheasant hunts to encourage more people to take up the sport.

Gary R. Zahm / Special to the Daily News