Young hunters gear up for annual youth turkey hunt
States across the country are beginning to focus on early youth hunts to increase the involvement of young hunters. All experienced hunters need to find interested youth and get them involved in outdoor activities, being that they are the future of our beloved sport and the conservation of our lands and waters! The lessons children learn afield such as persistence and patience will be applicable in many other life experiences. For the adult taking a child afield for the first time, there are a few things you can do to increase the young hunters odds of harvesting a bird.
Proceeding safely afield should be at the forefront of a youth’s outdoor education, teaching when, where and how to do so are the most important tasks of the adult. It’s a proven fact that children involved in activities at younger ages tend to continue that activity throughout their lives. Our state has fortunately stepped up to get youths involved in outdoor sports at younger ages. Hopefully this will keep outdoors men numbers up in the future.
I have taken youth hunters out since the program’s inception, but have noticed a lack of involvement from adults. With single-parent homes on the rise, there are more kids than ever needing this form of education. I consider it our job as sportsmen to locate and educate every willing child to the ways of the wild. To be honest, I feel sportsmen are dropping the ball. When I only see two to three other sportsmen afield daily with youths, I wonder why so few are being taken afield?
Greed is what I believe to be the most insidious deterring factor in youth-typed hunts. The fact is that most hunters don’t want to give up a bird because of their possessive nature. I have personally heard many turkey hunters griping about the early youth hunts. The most common statements made are that the early pressure on animals hurts their odds of harvesting one. and that kids don’t know how to call. And if they do call, shy birds will be created.
The fact that adults can see themselves as more important than the next generation sickens me. I have taken youth hunters to my favorite spots the last few years and seen no negative impact made on the hills resident turkey population. If the adult hunter is an educated caller, they can assist the child in making proper calls at the appropriate time. I have found that nine out of 10 adult turkey hunters have no clue how to call, and more importantly, what the calls mean. I believe these hunters hurt my odds worse than a kid ever could. They educate birds with their lack of calling ability, and proceed to pass their useless calling techniques on to the youths they are attempting to teach. This is a perfect example of how a student can only be as effective as his teacher. The adult hunter’s abilities can be the deciding factor as to the child’s success rate and future skill level. I recommend watching tutorial videos for the adult hunter who isn’t absolutely sure what is meant by the calls you make. Ask yourself would I take a child on a helicopter ride if I had no idea how to fly one? You must first be educated to later educate.
While guiding a child afield, you must know a few things to make their experience an enjoyable one. Number one is letting them make some decisions, like when to leave or head to a new spot. This will make them feel directly involved in the hunt, and prevent the child from becoming too bored. Remember your own youth; don’t force the child to stay, or they will likely not want to go again.
Bring lots of snacks and drinks as kids require refueling more often than adults. Some adults allow video games to be taken afield to keep the child busy. I feel this is the biggest no-no. In my mind, the instant gratification of such games has become the largest deterrent in keeping kids entertained outdoors. Hunting, as many other life experiences, teaches patience and that hard work pays off. Use the down time to teach other important factors in their upcoming future. I believe video games taken afield only cause disconnection in the experience being had, and that they then allow children to side step their education in patience.
For safety purposes, have the child carry the gun unloaded to prevent accidents. Load the gun only when sitting in a safe position, and unload before leaving or heading to a new location. Have the child treat the gun as if it were loaded at all times to help reinforce safe gun handling practices. Coach the child while shooting targets to shoot for the turkey’s head and neck only as body shots tend to only wound or allow a bird to escape before it dies. Know the child’s ability level, the effective range, and the pattern density of the shotgun used. The adult should call the shot as the child can’t be expected to properly make yardage estimations. That’s your job! Always remember a shot can never be taken back, so be sure of the bird’s distance and what lies beyond it.
Good luck to all the mentors and young hunters out there. Be safe and remember to make the experience a fun and enjoyable one, our future as sportsmen may depend on it! Good wishes and happy hunting.
Safety day at Bainbridge Rod and Gun Club
On Sunday, April 14, the Bainbridge Rod and Gun Club was abuzz with activity. Several local area youth attended the “Safety Day” for Chenango County’s First Annual Youth Turkey Hunt with an ECO co-sponsored by the Adirondack-Catskill Chapter of Safari Club International (ACSCI) and the NY Conservation Officers Association (NYCOA).
Chenango County ECO’s, Brett Armstrong and Jamie Powers, led the day’s activities, assisted by Lt. Kenric Warner, ECO Andy McCormick (Broome County) and several other hand-picked local sportsmen with a wealth of turkey hunting and firearms handling experience. Youth were given a crash course in turkey calls and calling techniques by local turkey hunting expert Ron Meek. They were also taught about the history of wild turkey populations in New York, turkey hunting techniques, hunting ethics, turkey hunting safety, and the laws and regulations pertaining to turkey hunting here in New York.
Program Coordinator and outdoor writer, George Franke, saw to it that everyone was well fed at lunch time. After lunch, each young hunter was given a refresher in firearms safety and given the opportunity to pattern their shotguns on the range to ensure an ethical turkey harvest should they get the opportunity next weekend during New York’s youth turkey hunting weekend (April 20-21). Happy hunting boys!
Special thanks goes out to the volunteers/landowners that made this program possible, as well as the following generous donors: Federated Sportsman’s Clubs of Chenango County, Quaker Boy Game Calls, Roma Pizzeria, Mayhood’s Sporting Goods ,Heading Due North, Bainbridge Sportsman’s Association and Steiner Packing. ECO Brett Armstrong & K9 Nitro NYS EnCon Police - K9 Unit Chenango County Region 7.
Proceeding safely afield should be at the forefront of a youth’s outdoor education, teaching when, where and how to do so are the most important tasks of the adult. It’s a proven fact that children involved in activities at younger ages tend to continue that activity throughout their lives. Our state has fortunately stepped up to get youths involved in outdoor sports at younger ages. Hopefully this will keep outdoors men numbers up in the future.
I have taken youth hunters out since the program’s inception, but have noticed a lack of involvement from adults. With single-parent homes on the rise, there are more kids than ever needing this form of education. I consider it our job as sportsmen to locate and educate every willing child to the ways of the wild. To be honest, I feel sportsmen are dropping the ball. When I only see two to three other sportsmen afield daily with youths, I wonder why so few are being taken afield?
Greed is what I believe to be the most insidious deterring factor in youth-typed hunts. The fact is that most hunters don’t want to give up a bird because of their possessive nature. I have personally heard many turkey hunters griping about the early youth hunts. The most common statements made are that the early pressure on animals hurts their odds of harvesting one. and that kids don’t know how to call. And if they do call, shy birds will be created.
The fact that adults can see themselves as more important than the next generation sickens me. I have taken youth hunters to my favorite spots the last few years and seen no negative impact made on the hills resident turkey population. If the adult hunter is an educated caller, they can assist the child in making proper calls at the appropriate time. I have found that nine out of 10 adult turkey hunters have no clue how to call, and more importantly, what the calls mean. I believe these hunters hurt my odds worse than a kid ever could. They educate birds with their lack of calling ability, and proceed to pass their useless calling techniques on to the youths they are attempting to teach. This is a perfect example of how a student can only be as effective as his teacher. The adult hunter’s abilities can be the deciding factor as to the child’s success rate and future skill level. I recommend watching tutorial videos for the adult hunter who isn’t absolutely sure what is meant by the calls you make. Ask yourself would I take a child on a helicopter ride if I had no idea how to fly one? You must first be educated to later educate.
While guiding a child afield, you must know a few things to make their experience an enjoyable one. Number one is letting them make some decisions, like when to leave or head to a new spot. This will make them feel directly involved in the hunt, and prevent the child from becoming too bored. Remember your own youth; don’t force the child to stay, or they will likely not want to go again.
Bring lots of snacks and drinks as kids require refueling more often than adults. Some adults allow video games to be taken afield to keep the child busy. I feel this is the biggest no-no. In my mind, the instant gratification of such games has become the largest deterrent in keeping kids entertained outdoors. Hunting, as many other life experiences, teaches patience and that hard work pays off. Use the down time to teach other important factors in their upcoming future. I believe video games taken afield only cause disconnection in the experience being had, and that they then allow children to side step their education in patience.
For safety purposes, have the child carry the gun unloaded to prevent accidents. Load the gun only when sitting in a safe position, and unload before leaving or heading to a new location. Have the child treat the gun as if it were loaded at all times to help reinforce safe gun handling practices. Coach the child while shooting targets to shoot for the turkey’s head and neck only as body shots tend to only wound or allow a bird to escape before it dies. Know the child’s ability level, the effective range, and the pattern density of the shotgun used. The adult should call the shot as the child can’t be expected to properly make yardage estimations. That’s your job! Always remember a shot can never be taken back, so be sure of the bird’s distance and what lies beyond it.
Good luck to all the mentors and young hunters out there. Be safe and remember to make the experience a fun and enjoyable one, our future as sportsmen may depend on it! Good wishes and happy hunting.
Safety day at Bainbridge Rod and Gun Club
On Sunday, April 14, the Bainbridge Rod and Gun Club was abuzz with activity. Several local area youth attended the “Safety Day” for Chenango County’s First Annual Youth Turkey Hunt with an ECO co-sponsored by the Adirondack-Catskill Chapter of Safari Club International (ACSCI) and the NY Conservation Officers Association (NYCOA).
Chenango County ECO’s, Brett Armstrong and Jamie Powers, led the day’s activities, assisted by Lt. Kenric Warner, ECO Andy McCormick (Broome County) and several other hand-picked local sportsmen with a wealth of turkey hunting and firearms handling experience. Youth were given a crash course in turkey calls and calling techniques by local turkey hunting expert Ron Meek. They were also taught about the history of wild turkey populations in New York, turkey hunting techniques, hunting ethics, turkey hunting safety, and the laws and regulations pertaining to turkey hunting here in New York.
Program Coordinator and outdoor writer, George Franke, saw to it that everyone was well fed at lunch time. After lunch, each young hunter was given a refresher in firearms safety and given the opportunity to pattern their shotguns on the range to ensure an ethical turkey harvest should they get the opportunity next weekend during New York’s youth turkey hunting weekend (April 20-21). Happy hunting boys!
Special thanks goes out to the volunteers/landowners that made this program possible, as well as the following generous donors: Federated Sportsman’s Clubs of Chenango County, Quaker Boy Game Calls, Roma Pizzeria, Mayhood’s Sporting Goods ,Heading Due North, Bainbridge Sportsman’s Association and Steiner Packing. ECO Brett Armstrong & K9 Nitro NYS EnCon Police - K9 Unit Chenango County Region 7.
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