blake
Life Member
NEWS!
From the Iowa DNR:
Deer Hunt Brings Kids Back Outdoors
Posted: October 20, 2009
Many Iowans are finding themselves drifting away from traditional outdoor pursuits, including hunting, because of an increase in the time demands ranging from children's activities to demands from work.
When there is competition between activities that which is easiest and less time consuming usually wins out. For those who love the outdoors, that does not bode well for the future.
But there is hope. Parents are increasingly recognizing this shift away from the outdoors. There is an effort by conservation groups to bring kids back to the outdoors. Groups like Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Whitetails Unlimited, Izaak Walton League as well as the DNR and county conservation boards and others are working through these mentored hunts to bring the kids back to the woods and fields.
In Appanoose County, Randy McPherren is leading the charge.
McPherren, the Iowa DNR's conservation officer for Appanoose and Monroe counties for the past 25 years, gets asked to take kids hunting from all directions - at school events, filling up with gas and even from passers by. As the local game warden, McPherren is on the frontline of the nature deficit battle. And he has decided to do something about it.
Last August, McPherren decided he wanted to put together a hunt of a lifetime for kids in Appanoose County, who otherwise would not have the chance. Appanoose County has some of the best deer hunting in a state that is the tops in whitetail hunting world. It was his hope was that the hunt would create in them a lifetime passion for the outdoors. McPherren began contacting local landowners and deer hunting guides to make the hunt happen and partnered with Laura DeCook with the Appanoose County Conservation Board to host the event.
"Our goal was to provide a hunting trip of a lifetime for these youths," McPherren said. "We were looking for kids who do not have the opportunity to get outdoors. Many are from single parent homes and their parents simply do not have the time. The parents were supportive and excited for their kid's experience."
The mentored hunt was advertised in the local newspaper, in all the schools in Appanoose County and by word of mouth. Eight kids between ages 9 and 14 responded and, after a day of field training on deer management, firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, trigger control, shot placement and some live firing, the kids were ready.
Youth hunters and volunteers gathered at the Appanoose County Conservation Board office in Sharon Bluffs State Park at 2 p.m., Oct. 3. After instructions, the kids were partnered with guides then spread throughout the county. They were in their deer stands by 4 p.m. By 7:15 p.m., when the hunt ended for the day, five youth had taken a deer. Each deer was taken by one shot.
"The kids made exceptional shot placement," said McPherren. "We spent a lot of time during the field day on dry firing and trigger control and discussing proper shot placement and the kids did it in the field just like they were taught."
The evening ended with a campfire roast with hotdogs and s'mores. Volunteers and some parents witnessed the kids reliving the exciting experience with each other. "For some, it was their first experience hunting anything and they were practically doing back flips," McPherren said.
On Oct. 4, the three kids who had not taken a deer were back in their stands around 4 p.m., preparing for the evening hunt. One deer was taken Sunday and the two youth who did not fill their tags will be partnered with guides during the early muzzleloader deer season, which began Oct. 17.
"One of our goals is to make this an annual event," McPherren said. "There is a disconnection between our youth and our natural resources and it is growing.
"Our guides had more excitement in the success of our hunt, than if it was one of their own," McPherren said. "The kids wear their emotions on their sleeve, and it is contagious. I can't say enough thanks to the guides, landowners and other volunteers that we had. It was their commitment and hard work that made this a successful event"
The Appanoose County Mentored Deer Hunt was hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Appanoose County Conservation Board, Southern Iowa Whitetails, Steve Shoop, owner of J and S Trophy Hunts, Moravia; Mike Mattly and Sam Belloma of Knight Rifles, Centerville; Knight and Hale game calls; Larry Kendall, owner, of Muddy Outdoors, Albia; Soap Creek Outfitters; Kramer Sausage Company; LaPorte City, Iowa Rotocast Plastics, Decorah, and Allen Currin.
From the Iowa DNR:
Deer Hunt Brings Kids Back Outdoors
Posted: October 20, 2009
Many Iowans are finding themselves drifting away from traditional outdoor pursuits, including hunting, because of an increase in the time demands ranging from children's activities to demands from work.
When there is competition between activities that which is easiest and less time consuming usually wins out. For those who love the outdoors, that does not bode well for the future.
But there is hope. Parents are increasingly recognizing this shift away from the outdoors. There is an effort by conservation groups to bring kids back to the outdoors. Groups like Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Whitetails Unlimited, Izaak Walton League as well as the DNR and county conservation boards and others are working through these mentored hunts to bring the kids back to the woods and fields.
In Appanoose County, Randy McPherren is leading the charge.
McPherren, the Iowa DNR's conservation officer for Appanoose and Monroe counties for the past 25 years, gets asked to take kids hunting from all directions - at school events, filling up with gas and even from passers by. As the local game warden, McPherren is on the frontline of the nature deficit battle. And he has decided to do something about it.
Last August, McPherren decided he wanted to put together a hunt of a lifetime for kids in Appanoose County, who otherwise would not have the chance. Appanoose County has some of the best deer hunting in a state that is the tops in whitetail hunting world. It was his hope was that the hunt would create in them a lifetime passion for the outdoors. McPherren began contacting local landowners and deer hunting guides to make the hunt happen and partnered with Laura DeCook with the Appanoose County Conservation Board to host the event.
"Our goal was to provide a hunting trip of a lifetime for these youths," McPherren said. "We were looking for kids who do not have the opportunity to get outdoors. Many are from single parent homes and their parents simply do not have the time. The parents were supportive and excited for their kid's experience."
The mentored hunt was advertised in the local newspaper, in all the schools in Appanoose County and by word of mouth. Eight kids between ages 9 and 14 responded and, after a day of field training on deer management, firearm safety, shooting fundamentals, trigger control, shot placement and some live firing, the kids were ready.
Youth hunters and volunteers gathered at the Appanoose County Conservation Board office in Sharon Bluffs State Park at 2 p.m., Oct. 3. After instructions, the kids were partnered with guides then spread throughout the county. They were in their deer stands by 4 p.m. By 7:15 p.m., when the hunt ended for the day, five youth had taken a deer. Each deer was taken by one shot.
"The kids made exceptional shot placement," said McPherren. "We spent a lot of time during the field day on dry firing and trigger control and discussing proper shot placement and the kids did it in the field just like they were taught."
The evening ended with a campfire roast with hotdogs and s'mores. Volunteers and some parents witnessed the kids reliving the exciting experience with each other. "For some, it was their first experience hunting anything and they were practically doing back flips," McPherren said.
On Oct. 4, the three kids who had not taken a deer were back in their stands around 4 p.m., preparing for the evening hunt. One deer was taken Sunday and the two youth who did not fill their tags will be partnered with guides during the early muzzleloader deer season, which began Oct. 17.
"One of our goals is to make this an annual event," McPherren said. "There is a disconnection between our youth and our natural resources and it is growing.
"Our guides had more excitement in the success of our hunt, than if it was one of their own," McPherren said. "The kids wear their emotions on their sleeve, and it is contagious. I can't say enough thanks to the guides, landowners and other volunteers that we had. It was their commitment and hard work that made this a successful event"
The Appanoose County Mentored Deer Hunt was hosted by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Appanoose County Conservation Board, Southern Iowa Whitetails, Steve Shoop, owner of J and S Trophy Hunts, Moravia; Mike Mattly and Sam Belloma of Knight Rifles, Centerville; Knight and Hale game calls; Larry Kendall, owner, of Muddy Outdoors, Albia; Soap Creek Outfitters; Kramer Sausage Company; LaPorte City, Iowa Rotocast Plastics, Decorah, and Allen Currin.