The logistics of getting 135 pheasant hunters all lined out and in proper position was quite a task for hunting club owner Tony Hendy, but by 9 a.m. everyone was ready to head into fields with guides and gun dogs pushing through knee high mixed cover in expectation of flushing prime ringneck pheasants.

Despite the early morning fog fields were dry and the dogs worked fine with shooters lined out in shooting lanes to make sure that all the escape routes were covered. Hendy had released over 600 pheasant into the nearly 500 acres of excellent bird holding cover and these birds not only were holding tight, but when a rooster flushed it got up and out with amazing speed. Good shooting by most upland game bird shooters accounted for a high count on birds harvested.

Western Outdoor News has been supporting Sportsmen Helping Children for well over a decade and this hunting editor joined chukar guides Harold and Tammie Horner and Justin Jones in a field for the morning's hunt. Our field had been stocked about 2 hours prior with 20 pheasant and after the first pass through of the field we accounted for 14 of the birds.

The club had a "full house" and hunters were spread out at very safe distances to allow for maximum dog work and safety in the field. In addition to the normal fields that are hunted by Raahauge's day shooters and club members, Stueve Brothers Farms of Chino allowed birds to be released and hunted over in a knee-high alfalfa field that proved to be a test for hunters and sporting dogs.

The morning hunt ended just prior to noon when shooters were asked to return to the club house for appetizers and a chance to go though the amazing selection of silent auction items and raffle items that had been donated for the event. There was a mass of volunteers that helped out with the luncheon served up by Tulsa Rib Company and country music supplied by Jeff Wacker made for a fun afternoon.

WON caught up with co-chairman John McGovern, of Forde-McGovern and Associates, to get his comment on the day and the support of the many sportsmen, volunteers and those who donated to this very worthwhile event.

"This has been a great year for the California Sporting Goods Association in spite of economic problems that face us all. We have been able to say yes to almost every request that has come our way and we will raise more money this year for these charitable groups than ever before," said McGovern.

There were guest speakers that talked about abused and homeless children, John Luker of the Village of Hope spoke to the group and representing Camp Pendleton's "Camp Cody" was Sergeant Tyler who is a "wounded warrior" having been shot in Afghanistan just this past July and received the Purple Heart. Sergeant Tyler had been on a pheasant hunting team last year prior to his deployment.

In addition to the many great raffle and auction items that were gun related, there was also a special sale of GI back packs, stuffed with items needed in war zones, that would include an American flag that was carried on a mission on 9/11/11 in the combat zone. These five flags were spoken for in less than 5 seconds after McGovern announced they would be available.

Just a few of the recipients of sporting goods items that have totaled over $1,725,000 dollars through this organizations efforts include: Camp Laurel, C.A.S.T., The David & Margaret Home, Fontana School District, McKinley Children's Center, Miller's Children's Center, Camp Cody, Shoes that Fit and the Village of Hope.

Making this a fun day in the field with lots of birds to hunt and enjoying great camaraderie with fellow hunters are long time supporters of the event that include: Big 5 Sporting Goods, Coleman Company, DeRevere & Associates, Forde-McGovern & Associates, Division Six Sports, Regency Real Estate, Alan and Owen Brown & Assoc., Raahauge's Pheasant Club, Fred Hall and Assoc., Bolsa Gunsmithing and Western Outdoor News.

For more information on supporting this annual pheasant hunt either by becoming a hunter next year, putting together your own shooting team or donating items for the raffle and auction contact California Sporting Goods Association by calling (818) 670-7055 or e mail the organization at kimt@fordemcgovern.com.

PRIME RINGNECKS — Upland game bird hunters enjoyed a good shoot at the 14th Annual Sportsmen Helping Children Pheasant Hunt held last week at Raahauge's Pheasant Club. There were 135 shooters who headed out to hunt up over 600 prime ringnecks released. Pictured above with a couple of long-tailed roosters is event supporter Ed Jarrin and his hard working black lab North. WON PHOTO BY JIM NIEMIEC