Youths and adults taking part in the youth/mentor hunt Oct. 21 included, front from left, Tell Richardson, Braxton Maris, Keenan Cole, Jordan Hopp, Lindsey Mendenhall, Dawson Mollendor, Tyrel Richardson, Trevor Kier, Caleb Kier, Cole Hamilton, Colby Hoskovec, J.D. Tuller, Tennille Warembourg, back from left, Conservation Officer Bryce Streger, Donnie Weiss, Jr., Tyler Kerchal, Matt Goosey, Ashlin Bussell, Linda Nelson, Ed Lee, Cade Francis, Blaine Teeter, Perry Vetter, Gary Warembourg, Steve Haskins, Casey Francis, Mike Herrin, Dan Kunnemann and Conservation officer Kevin Bergstrom. (Courtesy photo)
Tyrel Richardson takes a shot at a pheasant under the watchful eye of Mikey Hansen and hunting dog Dexter that afternoon. (Courtesy photo)
Pheasants Forever Youth Mentor Hunt another success
The Southwestern Nebraska Pheasants Forever (PF) Chapter held its 16th annual Youth Mentor Hunt Oct. 21. Fourteen participants, age 12-15, attended the event along with 56 adult volunteers, who helped make this event a huge success.
Each youth was teamed with a mentor to work with them one-on-one throughout the day’s activities. Mentors helped teach safety through many activities including shooting blue rock, plant ID, pollinator free foods, how to un-jam a shotgun and bird-cleaning. A representative from the Nebraska Game and Parks also instructed the youths on hunting laws and career opportunities in the natural resources field.
The highlight of the day was a live pheasant hunt that occurred at various locations on private land owned by several landowners in the Champion area.
Guided by their mentors, the youths experienced a very realistic field hunting experience using bird dogs controlled by a dog handler. There were at least four youths that had never hunted before and another four that had not hunted pheasant prior to the event, said Heather Francis of the PF chapter.
After the morning educational sessions, the Southwestern Nebraska Pheasants Forever Chapter provided lunch for everyone.
Those who completed the youth hunt received a hunting vest provided by a joint partnership of Pheasants Forever and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
“All in all, it was a very successful day full of education, sportsmanship and fun. Thank you to the Southwestern Nebraska PF chapter members and volunteers for providing their presentations, food and other various donations made to help the youth mentor hunt be successful,” Francis said.
She noted this event was made possible by contributions to the PF annual banquet.
The next banquet will take place on Feb. 24, 2018 at the new expo building at the Chase County Fairgrounds. There will be games, raffles, a dinner and a live auction.
All proceeds from this event will help fund the youth hunt and habitat projects in Chase and Dundy Counties, Francis said.