Bumpkin holding hearts in game (8)
I believe the answer is:
pheasant
'game' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'bumpkin holding hearts' is the wordplay.
'bumpkin' becomes 'peasant' (I've seen this before).
'holding' indicates putting letters inside.
'hearts' becomes 'h' (abbreviation used in card games e.g. bridge).
'peasant' enclosing 'h' is 'PHEASANT'.
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pheasant that I've seen before include "Wildfowl" , "Long-tailed gamebirds, male has bright feathers" , "Ant heaps (anag.)" , "something to pluck?" , "Cock" .)