NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/668245
"Our youth mentor hunts have been really effective in getting kids – who don't have the opportunity to hunt – out in the field for a quality hunt and getting them outdoors," said Tom Zimmer, supervisor for the Commission's law enforcement division in Norfolk. "It's sad to say that we can't reach all of the kids out there who have an interest in hunting every year, but that's what we're working toward." Youth hunters had the opportunity to stay in the park's comfortable lodges, receive one-on-one instruction on turkey hunting from mentors, and attend the NWTF chapter banquet on Friday night before taking to the field with their mentors to hunt on Saturday and Sunday. NWTF also donated one- year memberships to each participating youth, and in partnership with Scheels, the kids were sent home with their own hunting gear and clothing including hats, knives, camo shirts, masks and jake decoys to encourage them to continue hunting at home, said Dennis Conger, a regional director for NWTF in Nebraska. Ten conservation officers worked the event, offering mentorship and behind- the-scenes support such as setting up blinds, getting meals for the weekend brought in, gathering equipment, transporting kids to and from hunting spots and being available for anything that came up, Zimmer said. On Saturday morning, youth participated in classes on gun safety, patterning a shotgun, live shooting and turkey calling. They went out to hunt with their mentors Saturday evening and Sunday morning; any turkeys harvested would be field dressed by mentors with hands-on assistance from youth hunters. Most hunters stayed within the park's areas, but permission was also obtained from two landowners nearby, said Ponca State Park Superintendent Jeff Fields. In 2014, Conner Day of Newcastle and Dylan Dendinger of Hartington shot their first turkeys. Abbe Morton of Hartington and her mentor Jamie Bachmann, a Commission outdoor education instructor, had an exciting Sunday morning hunt when they called in an angry hen that brought in three other birds, including a nice tom, during the last half hour of the hunt. Overwhelmed with excitement, Abbe had an unfortunate miss. "Are you disappointed?" Jamie asked. "Well – yeah," Abbe said, her voice lowered. "But there are other emotions happening, too, right?" "Yeah, of course," Abbe said, with a pensive look on her face. "When you shoot, you don't even feel the shotgun kick." Her heart was beating so quickly. "You're going to be so hooked now because you were so close," Jamie replied. Abbe nodded and said she already had plans to go turkey hunting with her father the following week. In addition to turkey hunting, conservation officers and Ponca State Park staff have also offered December muzzleloader deer hunts to northeastern Nebraska youth. Both programs have been rewarding, Zimmer said. Some kids come in quiet and shy, but they leave with newfound confidence, pride and the spark necessary to pursue a lifelong passion for hunting. ■ MAY 2016 • NEBRASKAland 67 Conservation officer Alexandra Thomas mentored Charlie Winkelbauer during the 2014 Ponca Bluffs Jake Hunt. On Saturday morning, hunters learned gun safety, how to pattern a shotgun, live shooting and turkey calling.