Rotary Club targets pheasant for fundraiser

The Anderson Rotary Club held its annual pheasant hunt on Saturday, with the shot birds getting dressed and saved for the club's wild game feed, scheduled in coming months. About 50 hunters signed up for the hunt on Glenn Hawes' Palo Cedro ranch, which has drawn yearly devotees since the 1980s, Hawes said. A few of the regulars hailed from Sacramento.

Both morning and afternoon hunting parties began with a round of practice with clay pigeons before the pheasants were released.

The morning crew killed at least 50 of the 100 pheasants released, but several exuberant hunting dogs on hand helped track down more throughout the day.

After enjoying a lunch of Chile Colorado and rice, courtesy of club member John Sharrah, the afternoon hunting party drove out to the shooting gallery. Club members and friends fanned out in large circle and waited with shotguns for the crew from Stillwater Sportsmans Club to release the pheasants from a large stand of manzanita in the middle of the circle.

To the uninitiated, shooting towards the middle of the circle with friends on the other side seemed like a gamble, granted the circle was about 100 yards wide.

"Don't be surprised if you get peppered," offered one of the hunters.

Hawes quelled any concern, remarking that the density of the manzanita wouldn't allow any shot directly through.

While practicing on the clay pigeons, the hunters saw a variety of "looks." This involved shooting at the clay pigeons that were fired at varying angles and pitches at different stations. The target was fired loftily at some stations, and at a line drive between bushes at others. Hawes proved to be the best shot among one group, announcing a personal best after hitting four of five targets on the most difficult station.

It was the first pheasant hunt for 11-year-old Zach Finan of Cottonwood, who attended the hunt with his father, Jon Norred. While not a member of the club, Norred said he helps the club periodically, having recently donated half a bear to the club for its wild game feed, he said.

While previously only hunting squirrels, Zach enjoyed some success, appearing to shoot down two pheasant at his first two stations.

While the wind blew steadily during the afternoon hunt, it was still less a factor than the 35 mph gusts of cold air plaguing the morning party, hunt organizer Jerry Plamondon said.

"But everyone's really enjoying this," Plamondon said, adding that funds from the wild game feed go towards high school scholarships.