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2008 ULTIMATE WHITETAIL YOUTH HUNT

APPALACHIAN OUTDOORS & HUNTERS HELPING KIDS

          Last year, under the direction of Hunters Helping Kids, Inc., a coalition of leaders from local conservation groups  agreed to give of their time to help with a project to take kids hunting on the area’s first “2008 Ultimate Whitetail Youth Hunt”. 

Appalachian Outdoors ( Outdoor Addictz ) along with another TV show, had their camera crews there to film the entire event.

      Hunter’s Helping Kids is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving our hunting heritage through our youth.

Their goal is to form chapters across the nation lead by sportsmen and sports-women who are willing to give a little of their time to help with the mission to take kids hunting. (www.huntershelpingkids.com)

        For this hunt, over 20 men and women were willing to forego hunting on November 15, 2008, the first day of the General Firearms Season, to accomplish this goal.

        Twelve youngsters from across the state, ranging in age from 9 to 16 were selected by the groups to participate in a whitetail hunt on the Wilt, Carter, and Jedamski family properties in Rockingham County.

        Weeks prior to the hunt, the youngsters participated in a supervised hunter safety and firearms training program.

        In preparation for the hunt, the volunteers spent many hours scouting and setting up blinds on various food plots and locations on the properties.

        On Friday, November 14, youngsters, their parent or guardians and the hunt staff gathered at the Highland Retreat Facility in Bergton, VA for registration, room assignments and a sumptuous barbeque dinner, featuring venison and pork roasts.

        David Kocka, Regional Wildlife Biologist, with the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries spoke on whitetail biology and the importance of a hunter’s role in conservation, moreover the importance of a youngster’s role.  This was a great interactive program, in which the youngsters got involved by reading the literature that Mr. Kocka pasted out and asked numerous questions.

        Dennis Campbell, National Director of Chapter Development for Hunters Helping Kids, gave a talk and power-point presentation about “getting youth involved in hunting  and instilling in them the desire to hunt, to enjoy the great outdoors and to appreciate and preserve all of our natural resources.”

“Just as importantly”, Mr. Campbell stated, “Our goal is to help youngsters foster a deep appreciation of the natural world and to plant the seeds of resource stewardship in the minds and hearts of tomorrow’s leaders.”

             It was also an opportunity for      

             parents and youngsters to bond,  

             spending time together afield.

 
        Early Saturday morning, after a short night’s sleep, the excited kids enjoyed a pancake & sausage breakfast. Then the guides took the youngsters and parents to their respective blinds.  Each youngster was also accompanied by a videographer.

       
      V.D.G.I.F. biologist Dave Kocka, gave the youngsters a “Whitetail 101” talk and demonstrated how to age deer. He also explained how the state’s Demap Program works and how important the collected data is in helping  the land owners improve their deer herd.  He also explained the different diseases effect the whitetail population.

 
        “Becca” Grace, star of Bass Pro Shop’s Outdoor Channel Show, Next Generation, came to meet the kids, visit with them and to encourage them to protect our hunting heritage and to pursue their dreams.

Youngsters left Saturday evening, having met new friends, having shared the excitement of the hunt and many of them garnering a new-found love for hunting and our great outdoors. 

 
         As sportsmen and conservationists, it is our inherent responsibility to mentor our youth and instill in them the desires and traditions that we hold so dearly.  If we do not, it will be lost forever.  I am sure that every conservation-minded individual, shares that philosophy and wants to protect our hunting tradition.  Please take the initiative to mentor a child and take them hunting or fishing.

Submitted by Dennis Campbell  Hunters Helping Kids