It was a great learning experience last weekend for a group of kids in Appanoose County as they went on the first annual Appanoose County Youth Deer Hunt and successfully harvested five deer the first night.
The kids gathered on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 3 at Sharon Bluffs State Park and from there went with their guides to hunt on private land in Appanoose County.
“Our focus was to provide a hunting opportunity for youth in Appanoose County,” said Laura DeCook, naturalist for the Appanoose County Conservation Board.
Prior to the hunt, the kids were trained on hunting ethics, gun handling, shot placement and hunting safety. They were also taught that hunting is a way of providing food and wildlife management, not only for recreation.
During the individual hunts, the guides took the kids to strategically placed blinds and helped them hunt with muzzleloaders. “This was the hunting opportunity of a lifetime. Often deer guides are paid $2,000 for a hunt, but this experience was all donated by the guides, sponsors and landowners,” said Randy McPherren, Iowa DNR conservation officer.
All kids in Appanoose County were invited to attend the deer hunt. The primary sponsors of this event were the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Appanoose County Conservation Board and Southern Iowa Whitetails. Many other individuals and organizations helped make this hunt possible. Besides private landowners and guides, supporting sponsors included J & S Trophy Hunts in Moravia, Soap Creek Outfitters, Knight Rifles, Muddy Outdoors, Iowa Rotocast Plastics and Hunter Specialties. Planning for future wildlife hunts is currently in the works to provide more hunting and the outdoor experiences for youth in the county.
Outdoors
Related Photos
-
Last weekend youth hunters, guides, sponsors and land owners went on a deer hunt in Appanoose County. Front row from left: Brayton Hurley, Truin Hawk, Dalton Probasco, Taylor McGrann, Garrett McGrann, Austin Harris, Tabbie Long, guide and landowner Bob Self and Billy Schmidt. Back row from left: Mark Hoffman sponsor, Travis Hawk father and guide, Laura DeCook naturalist, Andy Lind guide and Southern Iowa White Tail representitive, Erik Mohrey J and S Trophy Hunts and guide, John Steinbach park ranger Iowa DNR guide, Jeremy Veach guide and father, Jeff Hornaday guide and landowner and Randy McPherren game warden, guide and landowner. Not pictured is Doug Hurley father, land owner, guide and a Southern Iowa White Tail representitive, Billy Knight land owner, guide and a Southern Iowa White Tail representitive, Steve Shoop with J & S Trophy Hunts, Mike and Nick Mattly of Knight Rifles and landowner and Sam Belloma. Photo by Julie Clark
Share your thoughts!
Youth deer hunt a success
A great chance for kids to be outdoors
- Outdoors
-
- Two outdoor organizations join forces
- Upcoming activities for adults at Sharon Bluffs State Park include Fox Club and a basket making class
- Iowa volunteers win top award at National Wild Turkey Federation Convention
- Pheasant Fest draws more than 20,000 to Des Moines
-
Risher gets surprise visit from Field and Stream magazine
- Here comes winter bird feeding
- Gather your family this Thanksgiving at Honey Creek Resort State Park
- For Iowa’s archery deer hunters, the best of the best has arrived
-
Breeding season, harvest keep deer on the move
- Time to renew snow mobile, ATV registrations
- First annual Partners for Wildlife Conservation banquet to be held
-
Untouchable wild horses? Not anymore
-
Youth deer hunt a success
- Youth outdoor day to be held
- Guided youth deer hunt opportunity
- More Outdoors Headlines
