Thursday, October 14, 2010

Second Webster Co. Pheasants Forever Youth Mentor Hunt held

Saturday October 2, more than 30 volunteers gathered at the Rep. Valley Trap club near Rosemont to help with the second annual Pheasants Forever Youth mentor hunt. Twenty young people ( ages 11-15) were guests of the Webster County Pheasants Forever chapter to participate in the well organized event. Jamie Reiman is the President of the Webster County Pheasants Forever chapter and was the chief organizer in coordinating the different elements of the event. Volunteers came from Lincoln, Hastings as well as Webster County. The goal of the event is to teach young people to hunt safely and responsibly, to conserve natural resources, respect the rights of the land owners and to enxcourage interest in the sport of bird hunting. Before being selected to participate in the hunt a youth must have completed a certified hunter safety course. The event is limited to 20 participants. Last year 14 youth participated, this year 20 participated. Each youth was given an orange hunter safety vest with logo by the PF chapter. Once a youth has participated they are not eligible for participation the following year unless there should not be enough applicants to fill the quota. The day long event includes instruction and participation in archery (This year instructor was Mark Petska.) Dog Training, (by Keith Penrose, of Hastings) trap shoot (thanks to Dave & Bruce Kohmetscher) 22 shoot ( ) a live pheasant hunt with a hunting dog ( Toby Alber and Andy Alber, Hope, Pete, McKenzie and ) Jason Fowler and dog, Joel Morgan and Dog, After each youth was able to bag a bird they were taught how to clean the game. A lunch, provided by the Pheasants Forever Chapter was prepared and served at noon by Vickie Alber and other board members. Wimmers Weiners provided the Brats for the event and Thramers provided the buns, Wal Mart also donated toward the lunch. Special thanks to Dick Hartman and JoAnn Meents for allowing the Chapter and the youth access to their property for hunting the live birds. Funds for the event come from the chapter's major fund raising activity, a banquet, which has been well supported in past years by local businesses and sportmen. The next banquet to be held in February 5, 2011. The Webster CountyPheasants Forever event is one of about 70 youth mentor hunts sponsored by Nebraska Pheasant Forever chapters across the state, during the month of October. Pheasants Forever Chapters across the state and Nebraska Game and Parks commission have been combining their efforts to provide Youth mentor hunts since 1996. Door prizes were given including a 22 rifle and a mounted pheasant donated by Osage taxidermy. Pheasants Forever obtained special permission from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to allow for this live bird hunt prior to the opening of the regular pheasant hunting season.

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