Pheasant Hunting Opportunity For Youth
Source: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/
Published: Oct. 27, 2010
LAMAR, Colo. - The Colorado Division of Wildlife Hunter Outreach Program and the Division of Wildlife Lamar area office are offering youth hunters an opportunity to participate in a pheasant hunt at the Mike Higbee State Wildlife Area on Sat., Nov. 6.
Interested youth 16 and under must have a hunter's ed card and small game license. An adult guardian must accompany each youth hunter. The day's activities include a safety refresher, practice with clay targets, lunch and afternoon pheasant hunt. The DOW will supply youth-size shotguns or families can bring their own. Hunters wishing to use their own shotguns must have the guns inspected by a DOW officer before the hunt.
Colorado has a long tradition of hunting, and one way it preserves that tradition is by encouraging young hunters to take to the field. Why is youth hunting important? "Hunting is good for kids," said Linda Groat, a rural education specialist for the DOW. "It builds self-esteem, teaches respect and responsibility through outdoor skills, provides quality time with parents and friends, improves hand-eye coordination with skills such as marksmanship and builds a future generation of ethical and conservation-minded sportsmen."
According to Groat, youngsters who are introduced to hunting at an early age generally hunt for a lifetime. "Young people represent the future of hunting in America," she added.
Every year, Colorado issues about 14,000 youth small game licenses and 29,000 youth big game licenses. The numbers have dropped in recent years, suggesting that young people are not being introduced to hunting the same way their parents were. As Groat points out, "the biggest factor affecting youth hunting participation is parent or family hunting participation."
Another factor is access, which is why the Division is constantly working to increase public hunting access to private land.
"Youth clinics offer a great opportunity for young hunters, some in their first season afield, to participate in a structured program that will teach them about hunting and provide them with the foundation to become better hunters," said Jim Bulger, hunting outreach coordinator for the DOW.
"Putting ethical hunters in the field builds respect for hunting traditions with the non-hunting public. We need non-hunters to see hunters as ethical, and hunting as a legitimate activity that brings families and communities together as an important part of Colorado's rural economy and a valuable wildlife management tool for many species," he added.
Contact Linda Groat at (719) 336-6608 or Kevin Kaczmarek at (719) 940-3590 to register. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis until the hunt fills.
Cosponsors are the DOW and "Rebel Roosters," which is the Lamar Chapter of Pheasants Forever.
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