The Dodge City Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is embracing the return of pheasant hunting season with a new contest and incentives for hunters. This year hunters can enter a longest tail feather competition in addition to the Rooster Roundup and Bounty Bird contests and join the Hunt the West Rewards Program.
The Bounty Bird, exclusive to Ford County, and the Rooster Roundup, which is hosted in conjunction with seven surrounding counties, annually release 150 banded birds throughout the walk-in hunting areas (WIHA) in Ford County (a total of 500 banded birds across the participating communities). Hunters lucky enough to bag one of these banded birds can turn in the leg band at the Dodge City Visitor Information Center, 400 W. Wyatt Earp Blvd., for a gift and register for a drawing to win a prize donated by local businesses across Dodge City.
The longest tail feather competition, hosted by Family Outdoor Recreation, is open to hunters of all ages. Winners will be selected from two groups: adult and youth, with prizes differing by category. The Hunt the West Rewards Program is a partnership with area restaurants and businesses to provide members with discounts and special promotions. Members will also receive an express entry in any hunting contest hosted by the CVB.
“Hunting season is always an exciting time of year for us,” said Robin Bailey, tourism coordinator and president of the Wild West Country Tourism Coalition. “We are delighted we can offer our hunting community more incentives to hunt in southwest Kansas.”
To find more information about in the Dodge City area, the CVB’s hunting contests, or to register for the Hunt the West Rewards Program go to www.visitdodgecity.org/huntthewest.