10/27/2009
By Jason Probst/The Hutchinson News
One of the best things about working at The News is the fun and interesting assignments we sometimes get to do. Among those, one of the best assignments I've ever been on was a weekend turkey hunt with local Wildlife and Parks biologist Steve Adams, who helped organize a youth hunt in Reno and Rice counties.

I was impressed with the amount of work Adams and the other volunteers put in to finding places for these kids to hunt and the effort they put in to preparing the young hunters for the field. Not only did the veteran hunters work alongside the kids, they explained the biology behind the turkey's behavior.

    
Wildlife and Parks employees are some of the most passionate and dedicated state employees you're likely to find in Kansas. They love the outdoors and use their positions with KDWP to advance the causes of hunting and fishing. One of the tools they use is organizing special youth hunts to introduce kids to the sport.

There weren't youth hunting seasons when I was a kid, and if my dad wasn't an avid hunter and angler, I'm not sure that I'd have grown to appreciate all the opportunity and enjoyment that can be found in spending time outdoors. It's critically important today that children learn about those opportunities, especially when there are so many things out there to compete for a child's interest.

So when someone from KDWP or a group like Pheasants Forever asks for help getting the word out about a youth hunt, I like to help. That's why I'm using this column to let you know about several events that are coming up in the next several weeks - all geared toward introducing kids to the exciting world of the Kansas outdoors.



Heartland Pioneer

Quail Forever

The Heartland Pioneer Quail Forever group is holding another youth hunt on the Grassland Game Preserve, on land owned by Dr. Jack Mull in Rice County. The hunt will take place Nov. 7 and will give hunters the chance to hunt with experienced guides and bird dogs. Two sessions - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - will be limited to 10 hunters each session. Youths 16 and younger are eligible for the hunt, where they'll learn hunter safety, how to hunt in a line and work behind trained bird dogs. Good food and fellowship will also be found at Dr. Mull's cabin on the property. The signup deadline is Saturday. Contact Nolan Fisher at (620) 242-3700 to sign up for more information.



2009 Upland Youth

Season Challenge

The McPherson Area Pheasants Forever Chapter, along with KDWP and Heartland Outdoors in South Hutchinson, are teaming up for this year's youth season pheasant hunt. Youths 16 and younger are eligible to participate, and the hunter who presents the longest tail feather will win a 12-gauge Remington 870 Express shotgun, provided by the McPherson Area Pheasants Forever Chapter. The hunt will take place Nov. 7 and 8. To win the shotgun, youths must show their pheasant, not just the tail feathers, at Heartland Outdoors between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and between noon and 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, or to sign up, contact Steve Adams at (316) 772-2702.

Additional information about the hunts is available at www.kdwp.state.ks.us.



Youth hunts' value

If you enjoy hunting, or even if you don't, there's value in supporting youth hunts such as those being sponsored by KDWP. Hunters, by and large, support massive habitat projects through the money they spend on licenses, permits and hunting supplies. Collectively, they help preserve thousands of acres of land in Kansas that helps sustain wildlife populations. While many people talk about environmentalism and express concern about urban sprawl, deforestation and the sort, hunters have a vested interest in protecting our natural resources for generations to come. Most hunters I know carry a deep love for the wilderness, and work do what they can toward preservation efforts. The numbers of hunters are falling, however, and succeeding generations are producing fewer active hunters.

That's a trend KDWP hopes to change through these youths, and that's why I think it's important to support those efforts however we can.