Outdoor Youth Challenge Winners at National Hunting and Fishing Days Celebration
November 24, 2008
Winners have been announced for the Outdoor Youth Challenge held during West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days Sept. 27 and 28 at Stonewall Resort State Park, according to Shawn Head of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. This year, the Challenge events were moved to the side of the lake where most other activities were set up and rules were changed to allow more youth entries. Any youth between the ages of 6 and 18 could participate, and they had to complete at least 10 of 20 events related to hunting, fishing and outdoors recreation to be eligible for prize drawings at the end of each day. There were approximately 349 youth signed up for this year’s Challenge. Youth entrants could participate just for fun or could sign up to compete (junior group or senior group) for grand prizes. This year’s grand prize winners in the competition were:
Saturday
- Jarred Perkins of Montcalm, W.Va., who won a lifetime hunting and fishing license, but since he already had one, accepted the monetary value of the license to purchase equipment at Jerry’s Sporting Goods Store in Weston;
- Kody Seech of Buckhannon, W.Va., who won a Junior Group Junior Conservation Camp Scholarship and Jonathan Alton of Weston, W.Va., who won a Senior Group State Conservation Camp scholarship;
Sunday
- Kenny Moore of French Creek, W.Va., who won a lifetime hunting and fishing license;
- Corey Hostuttler of Mannington, W.Va., who won a Junior Group Junior Conservation Camp Scholarship, and Lenny Wheatly of Walkersville, W.Va., who won a Senior Group State Conservation Camp scholarship.
The two lifetime hunting and fishing licenses were donated by the Chestnut Ridge and Prickett’s Fort Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The four Conservation Camp scholarships were sponsored by Mountain Air Services of Buckhannon, W.Va.
“The Outdoor Youth Challenge is probably the most important single event at West Virginia’s Celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Days,” according to DNR Director Frank Jezioro. “It encourages our youth to learn new skills and to gain important knowledge and experience about wildlife, hunting, fishing, firearm safety, law enforcement and outdoor recreation. For some youngsters, this may be the only opportunity they will have to be exposed to these fun and exciting outdoor activities.”
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Educators and Industry Partner With Minnesota DNR To Get Kids Outdoors This Winter
November 20, 2008
How do you get kids involved in ice fishing? Teachers from the Battle Lake and Nevis school districts and members of Ice Team, LLC, set out to answer that question at a recent educator workshop at Glendalough State Park sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) MinnAqua Program.
The workshop is part of an on-going Ice Team/MinnAqua education initiative, which involves strong teacher and community involvement. Through the initiative, MinnAqua, the DNR’s angling and aquatic education program, trains teachers and other community leaders to use MinnAqua’s Leader’s Guide, Fishing: Get in the Habitat!, which covers everything from fish habitat and biology to aquatic resources stewardship, fishing and safety. The leaders then bring the lessons and skills to kids by providing classroom instruction, organizing ice-fishing outings, and soliciting support from local groups and volunteers. Ice Team LLC, a marketing organization representing the ice fishing industry, provides on-ice logistics support, including equipment and angling experts.
According to Mike Smith, director of field promotions for Ice Team, last year’s pilot education program in Minnesota schools was an overwhelming success. The group plans to expand the program this winter and in coming years, targeting schools that have already shown an interest in the MinnAqua program.
“This partnership is about more than just fishing - it’s about education, stewardship, and getting kids outdoors and interested in Minnesota’s fishing heritage,” explained MinnAqua Education Specialist Nadine Meyer.
Battle Lake has tentatively scheduled its fifth and sixth grade ice fishing outing for early January. Plans in Nevis are still pending.
For more information on MinnAqua, visit www.mndnr.gov/minnaqua
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Register Now for Central Illinois Youth Goose Hunt
November 13, 2008
Phone-in Registration Deadline for Youth Hunt Lottery Drawing is Dec. 5
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Registration is now open for the 8th annual Central Illinois Youth Goose Hunt. This event providing youngsters with a chance to hunt at private waterfowl hunting clubs in Peoria, Fulton and Knox counties during the holiday break on Dec. 26-27. The hunt is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Participation in the hunt is limited. Youth hunters will be selected by a lottery drawing among all interested youth who phone in to register by Friday, Dec. 5. First-time applicants will be given a priority over previous participants in the drawing. The lottery drawing will be held on Monday, Dec. 8, and youth hunters selected will be notified by mail.
The hunt is open to youngsters ages 10-15 at the time of the hunt. All applicants must have successfully completed a hunter safety education course, possess a valid Illinois hunting or sportsman’s license, have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number, and have a 20 gauge or larger shotgun. Youth hunt participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who must possess a valid firearm owner’s identification (FOID) card.Â
To register for the hunt or for more information, call Joe Robinson at 217/785-8060 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Raffle tickets are available to support the Central Illinois Youth Goose Hunt, as well as youth waterfowl hunts throughout the state. Only 500 tickets will be sold at $10 each to benefit the youth hunts. Prizes available include a Remington 870 Super Mag 3 ½ in. shotgun, a Lifetime Hunting License (which is transferable), and a Mossberg .22 rifle. Winners will be drawn at the Central Illinois Youth Goose Hunt banquet on Dec. 26. Raffle participants need not be present to win. For tickets or more information, call 217/785-8060.
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November 15 Marks DNR’s 14th Annual Maryland Junior Deer Hunt Day
November 6, 2008
Annapolis, Md. — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources invites junior hunters to try deer hunting and refine their hunting skills during Maryland’s 14th Annual Junior Deer Hunt Day on Saturday, November 15, 2008. White-tailed and sika deer firearms hunting will be open exclusively to hunters aged 16 years and younger who are accompanied by an unarmed, licensed (or exempt from license requirement) adult who is at least 21 years of age.
“This popular hunting day provides an opportunity for experienced adult deer hunters to mentor and pass on the knowledge and skills required to be a safe, effective and ethical hunter,” said Harry Spiker, Wildlife and Heritage Service Game Mammal Section Leader. “Junior Deer Hunt Day is dedicated to teaching young hunters the ethics, techniques and traditions of hunting, and encouraging appreciation of our natural resources.”
New this year, the Junior Deer Hunt Day bag limit is separate from the Deer Firearms Season bag limit. This change allows successful Junior Deer Hunt Day participants to continue to pursue deer during the Deer Firearms Season in all regions of the state. Junior Deer Hunt Day is open concurrently with the Bow Season. Hunters pursuing deer with archery equipment on November 15 must wear fluorescent orange.
All hunters participating in the Junior Deer Hunt Day must have passed a Maryland Hunter Education Course and exam and demonstrated proficiency during a practical test and live firing exercise. The Hunter Education course includes instruction in hunter responsibilities, firearms safety, the principals of wildlife management and other outdoor fundamentals.
Successful junior deer hunters are encouraged to visit one of Maryland’s Junior Hunter Certificate Agents to receive a special certificate for any deer they harvest. The certificate is available to junior hunters during any of the Maryland deer hunting seasons. A list of participating certificate agents, bag limits, season dates, deer registration procedures and other deer hunting information are online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide. The Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping 2008-2009 issued with each hunting license contains detailed information about all of Maryland’s hunting seasons.
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Kids Recommend Osprey to be New State Bird of Florida
November 6, 2008
The osprey is the winner in a statewide vote of fourth- through eighth-graders to be Florida’s new official state bird. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Department of Education teamed up to conduct the election as a civics lesson for the kids.
Students across the state participated in campaign activities at their schools, researching their favorite candidates, designing posters and participating in debates regarding the bird they would most like to have considered for Florida’s state bird as an alternative to the current state bird, the mockingbird.
The civics lesson for the kids doesn’t end with this vote. They also will have the opportunity to follow this initiative as the students’ selection will go through the legislative process to decide if the osprey should become the new state bird. The FWC will prepare a bill for introduction for the 2009 Legislative Session. The bill must be approved by the House, the Senate and Gov. Charlie Crist before the osprey is officially designated as the state bird. Teachers and students can follow this process at www.vote4bird.org.
“This project gave students the chance to participate in the democratic process in a very meaningful way,” said Judy Gillan, outreach coordinator for the FWC. “They learned about exercising their vote, and they will learn about bills becoming laws. It also gave them an opportunity to learn about some of Florida’s greatest species of birds.”
After the osprey, in popularity, were the snowy egret, great egret, brown pelican and black skimmer. More than 77,000 students voted in Florida, with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders casting the most votes. Broward, Orange and Brevard counties had the most students participating, but students in all counties in Florida were represented in the vote.
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South Carolina Youth Raccoon Hunt Set Nov. 1 in Anderson
October 28, 2008
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina State Coon Hunters Association and the Anderson County Coon Hunters Association will sponsor a youth raccoon hunt near Anderson on Saturday, Nov. 1. The winners in this event will qualify to participate in the state championship at the Webb Center in Hampton County on Feb. 28, 2009.
For additional information and applications for the Anderson youth raccoon hunt, contact Troy Wolverton at (864) 353-8739.
Two age groups will be participating in the youth coon hunt, ages 6 to 13 and ages 14 to 17. Each youth is required to bring a guardian, and there is no application fee. There will be door prizes for all participants. The deadline for the bench show is 4 p.m. and the hunt begins at 6 p.m.
Before the actual competition, participants will attend seminars on sportsmanship, scoring and hunter safety. Contestants are then divided into groups, or “casts,” for the evening competition. Efforts are then made to group the participants within each age division with similarly aged contestants to further even out the competition within each cast. Each cast consists of a judge and guide, and three or four youth hunters, each with a dog. Parents are allowed to follow along and observe from a distance, but each youth handles and calls his or her own dog.
In accordance with competition hunt rules, no raccoons are killed during the competition. Winners are determined based on the dog’s ability to “strike” a trail and tree a raccoon. The hunt awards points based on the order of striking and treeing and the dog handler’s ability to interpret correctly the dog’s actions.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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California DFG Offers Special Game Bird Heritage Program Event at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
October 27, 2008
Permits will be issued for four special Game Bird Heritage Apprentice pheasant hunts for junior hunters at Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. The deadline to apply is October 27, 2008. To be eligible, youths must have successfully completed a hunter education course and possess a valid California Junior Hunting License. The hunts, in Solano County, southwest of Fairfield, are scheduled as follows:
- Hunt 1 - Nov. 15 - 8 a.m. to noon
- Hunt 2 - Nov. 15 - 1 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
- Hunt 3 - Nov. 16 - 8 a.m. to noon
- Hunt 4 - Nov. 16 - 1 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
Hunters can apply on the DFG Web site or can download, print and mail an application form available at: www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame/gamebird/specialhunts. Scroll down and click on “Apprentice Hunts for Juniors” to find information and a statewide map of the hunts and the application. Applicants must enter all required information. Hunters who have just graduated from a hunter safety class and have a priority stamp may enter that number to receive priority in the drawing. Two hunters may enter as one party.
The hunters must be accompanied and supervised by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. Shooting safety glasses and blaze orange clothing are required by all participants (including chaperones). Any vacancies after the drawing will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis through the receipt of applications.
A total of 160 permits will be available for the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area Apprentice pheasant hunts. Each of the hunt periods will be limited to 40 youths. All successful applicants will be notified by mail.
Questions concerning these special youth pheasant hunts should be directed to the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area at (707) 425-3828.
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California DFG Offers Special Game Bird Heritage Program Event at Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area
October 27, 2008
Permits for two Game Bird Heritage Apprentice pheasant hunts for junior hunters will be issued by drawing. The deadline to apply is Oct. 27. To be eligible, youths must have successfully completed a hunter education course and possess a valid California Junior Hunting License. This apprentice hunt will be located south of the City of Sonoma at the Valley of the Moon Trap Club and on the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Ringstrom Bay Unit of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area.
Additional activities will include wildlife management and safety talks, and practice shooting at the trap range. Lunch will be provided to participants and their chaperones. This event is possible through DFG’s Game Bird Heritage Program, the generous contributions by The Valley of the Moon Trap Club, and our many volunteers and donations. The event times are scheduled as follows:
Morning Hunt - Nov 15, 2008 - 8 a.m. to noon
Evening Hunt - Nov 15, 2008 - 1 p.m. to 4:55 p.m.
Hunters can apply on the DFG Web site or can download, print and mail an application form available at: www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame/gamebird/specialhunts. Scroll down and click on “Apprentice Hunts for Juniors” to find information and a statewide map of the hunts and the application. Applicants must enter all required information. Hunters who have just graduated from a hunter safety class and have a priority stamp may enter that number to receive priority in the drawing. Two hunters may enter as one party.
The hunters must be accompanied and supervised by a non-hunting adult, 18 years of age or older. Shooting safety glasses and blaze orange clothing are required by all participants (including chaperones).
A total of 20 permits will be available for the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area hunts (10 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon). All successful applicants will be notified by mail only. Any vacancies after the drawing will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis through the receipt of applications.
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New Hampshire Youth Hunt Weekend for Deer Set for October 25-26, 2008
October 16, 2008
CONCORD, N.H. – Young deer hunters will have their own opportunity for success on Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26, 2008, when New Hampshire’s youth deer hunt is held. This weekend gives young people statewide the opportunity to go deer hunting with an adult mentor, without the pressure of competing with thousands of adult hunters. Accompanying adults must be licensed hunters and are not allowed to carry a firearm, so that they can devote all of their time and attention to coaching their young companions.
Prospects for this year’s youth season are good, according to Kent Gustafson, Deer Project Leader for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Gustafson notes that while the winter of 2007-08 was more severe than in recent years, New Hampshire’s deer population is healthy and will provide excellent opportunities and memorable experiences.  In 2007, young hunters took 642 deer during the youth weekend, just slightly below the record 668 deer taken in 2006.
“The weekend is a chance to introduce young people, under the careful guidance of an experienced adult, to deer hunting,” said Gustafson. “You can build bonds for a lifetime while tracking a whitetail through the autumn woods or deciphering the sounds of the forest from a treestand. We hope hunters will spend the weekend with their sons and daughters, grandchildren or young friends, helping them learn what hunting is all about.”
New this year, non-resident youth hunters may participate in the New Hampshire Youth Deer Hunt Weekend only if New Hampshire youth may hunt in their state if it holds a special youth deer hunt. Currently, Vermont youths may not participate in this fall’s New Hampshire youth deer hunt weekend because of residency restrictions on Vermont’s youth hunt. These restrictions do not apply during the regular seasons for deer.
Gustafson notes that hunting can help youngsters learn about the environment, conservation, tradition and ethics, and gain an appreciation for the wildlife and wild places of New Hampshire.Â
The basics of New Hampshire’s youth hunting weekend for deer are as follows:
- Youths must be under 16 years of age to participate; they do not need a hunting license and do not have to complete a hunter education requirement.
- Both resident and nonresident youth may take part, but for nonresidents, their home state must allow N.H. youth to participate in their special youth deer hunt.
- Youths must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older, and the adult must have a valid New Hampshire hunting license.
- Adults who accompany youth hunters may not carry a firearm or assist in taking the deer, other than to supervise.
- Each licensed adult may accompany up to two youths under 16 years of age.
- A deer of either sex is legal statewide during the youth weekend.
- Youths are entitled to their own bag limit of game; any deer taken constitutes the one deer allowed by muzzleloader or regular firearms per year.
- All deer need to be registered, as required during the regular season; youths should tag their deer using the tag found inside the back cover of the 2008-2009 N.H. Hunting Digest, available from Fish and Game license agents statewide or on the Fish and Game website at www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunting.htm. Download the whole publication or just the tag.
- Youths and accompanying adults must comply with all Fish and Game laws relative to hunting deer.
New Hampshire has offered a special youth deer hunt since 1999. It also offers youth weekends for waterfowl hunting in the early fall and for turkey in the spring.
For more details on hunting in New Hampshire, and online hunting license sales, visit www.HuntNH.com/Hunting/hunting.htm.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit www.HuntNH.com.
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Youth Deer Gun Season Offers Young Hunters First Shot
October 13, 2008
