South Dakota's first pheasant hunting season begins Saturday, but only for some pre-teen and teenage hunters.

This year's youth pheansant hunting season has been extended to five days, and will last from Saturday through Wednesday, Oct. 4-8, and is open to young pheasant hunters that meet the following requirements:

• Be 12 to 17 years old or turn 12 years old on or before Dec. 31.

• Possess a valid HuntSAFE certificate and a South Dakota youth small game license.

• Be accompanied by an adult who is not carrying a firearm.

Young hunters may qualify to take part in the season in one of two ways. They can follow the regulations set for the youth pheasant season or they can take to the fields under the provision of the mentored hunting program.

The mentored hunting program allows resident young people and their mentors to participate in the youth pheasant season if they meet these requirements:

• Hunters must be at least 10 but less than 16 years of age.

• No hunter education or hunting license required for the youth hunter.

• Each young hunter must be accompanied by an unarmed adult mentor who possesses a hunter education card and a valid license for hunting small game.

• Written permission is needed from a parent/guardian if the mentor is not the parent/guardian.

Heeding concerns from the public about the warm conditions that can be present in early October, the start of shooting hours for this season has been moved up to 10 a.m. CDT. Shooting must end at sunset.

A full explanation of mentored hunting rules is available at www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/hunting/MentoredHunt/index.htm.

Although not required by law, young hunters and the adults who accompany them are advised to wear at least one exterior garment of fluorescent orange.

The daily limit is three roosters with a possession limit of 15 taken according to the daily limit.

Nontoxic shot is required on most public lands with the exception of GFP Walk-In Areas, U.S. Forest Service National Grasslands and state School and Public Lands. Permission is required to hunt on private land.