Courtesy Photo
Participants in the youth mentor hunt Saturday were, front from left, Tondarae Francis, Tagen Yrkoski, Lexie Yrkoski, Tate Teply, Brextin Moreno, Krayton Paisley, Jaislynn Hicks, Alyssa Stamm, middle row from left, Zach Tarin, Adam Kisker, Kaden Dorn, Dominic Harris, Austin Sydow, Jacob Smith, back from left, mentors Perry Vetter, Matt Goosey, Nate Vitosh, Dan Kunnemann, Mike Herrin, Eron Kitt, Allan Smith, Tyler Oxford, Johnne Maxfield, Carter Leibbrandt, Gary Knehans and Eric Gonzales. .
Thirteen experience another fun-filled youth mentor hunt
The Southwestern Nebraska Pheasants Forever Chapter held its 20th annual youth mentor hunt on Saturday.
Thirteen participants, age 12 to 15 , attended the event along with adult volunteers who helped make the event a huge success, said Heather Francis, chapter president.
In its 20 years providing them, the chapter has graduated 293 from its mentor program since 2001.
Each youth was teamed with a mentor to work with them one-on-one throughout the day’s activities.
Mentors helped teach safety through many activities including shooting blue rock, plant ID, first aid, dog first aid, fire and powerline safety, asking permission to hunt from a landowner and bird-cleaning.
Representatives from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission also instructed youths about hunting rules and regulations.
The highlight of the day was a live pheasant hunt at various locations on private land in the Champion area. Youths, guided by their mentors, experienced realistic field hunting experiences using bird dogs controlled by a dog handler.
After the morning educational sessions, the Southwestern Nebraska Pheasants Forever Chapter provided lunch for everyone. Those who completed the youth hunt received a hunting vest provided by a partnership between Pheasants Forever and the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission.
“All in all, it was a very successful day, full of education, sportsmanship and fun,” Francis said.
She thanked PF chapter members and volunteers for providing presentations, food and other donations for a successful youth mentor hunt.
This event was made possible by contributions at the chapter’s annual banquet, Francis said.
The 2022 banquet will be held Feb. 26 at the expo building located in Imperial at the Chase County Fairgrounds.
There will be games, raffles, a dinner and a live auction. All proceeds from this event will help fund youth hunts and habitat projects in Chase and Dundy counties, she said.
The chapter will also be hosting the fourth annual reunion hunt. A date for the reunion event will be set during the upcoming pheasant and quail hunting season, she said.