By Mike Christensen
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc.
Needs
Recent research has shown that only 67% of students taking a hunter education class end up buying a license (“Hunter Education Graduates’ Proclivity to Purchase a License after Graduation”, Southwick & Associates). In reviewing data from Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc. events, we have found similar numbers for the children we have been working with over the last 13 years.
Methods
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc., in partnership with local National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, and Quail Forever chapters, will be hosting First Hunt events across the state. These First Hunt events will be designed for hunters who have recently passed a Hunter Education class. The goal of a First Hunt event is to give inexperienced hunters the opportunity to experience an upland hunt in a controlled environment. This program will focus on giving new hunters a chance to go afield in a controlled hunting environment with experienced mentors coaching them. The event will consist of:
- A review of hunter education principles, focusing on those related to upland hunting,
- Shotgun safety and target shooting,
- A controlled hunt with pheasants placed in bird launchers and the hunters mentored by experienced hunters and dog handlers.
Once the new hunters have demonstrated safe gun handling and have developed their shooting skills to the point where they can be reasonably expected to break clay targets, they will be taken to the field 2 at a time to hunt over trained hunting dogs. Each hunter will be accompanied by a mentor along with the dog handler and hunt master. When the dogs go on point, the hunters will be coached into position and the bird will be released for the shot. Each hunter will have opportunities at 2 birds.
The program will be organized and coordinated by Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc. We will work with KDWPT and hunter education instructors to get word to the students about the First Hunt opportunities. We will partner with local NWTF, PF & QF chapters to staff the events and help with funding.
Working with KDWPT, we will have a flyer in the packages that are sent to each Hunter Ed instructor across the state, giving students notification of the program and a website where they will be able to go and find the schedule of First Hunt events, a link to sign-up, and recognition for all of the sponsoring organizations.
Our goal is to develop and refine this program in its first year and build it into an annual event, broadening to more sites in following years.
Budget
Our goal is to host 2 First Hunt events every month from September 2015 thru March 2016, for a total of 14 First Hunt events. We will limit each event to 20 hunters. We will provide each hunter with 2 birds. We estimate that we will need 2 boxes of shells for the hunters to use in developing their shooting skills. We will provide snacks and drinks for the event. Liability and sexual abuse and molestation insurance will be provided by Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc. for all participants. We will purchase 4 sets of 4 remote control bird launchers. We will purchase 4 youth semi-auto shotguns. The equipment will be stored at Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors’ facility in Wichita, KS and made available to chapters on a first-come, first-served basis.
The total estimated cost for the above is approximately $18,810.60.
Objectives
The First Hunt program will serve as a follow-on activity for new hunters completing a hunter education class. It will give new hunters that first live hunting experience, while helping to develop the skills needed to be successful and safe in the field. As with all Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc. activities, we will work to insure that those children with the least access to the outdoors has first chance to participate in these events.
Desired Outcomes
By giving new hunters the opportunity to participate in a live hunting activity, we expect to see these hunters continue with their pursuit of developing their skills as a hunter.
Benefits
First Hunts will help in the recruitment of new hunters to the outdoor community. Our goal is to give the new hunters a positive hunting experience with the training needed to make them comfortable in pursuing upland game on their own.
Expected Longevity
Based on trial runs of this program in 2014, we expect this program to be very popular with new hunters. The PF chapter in Sedgwick County is already making plans to offer a First Hunt event every month, beginning in September. We expect to see this kind of reception with others as we roll the program out, with the result being an on-going program.
Recognition
Each participating organization will be recognized in flyers and promotional material that is provided for the hunter education classes. Banners (to be provided by the partners) will be displayed at the event. Promotional material will be provided at the event, encouraging the new hunters to become involved with the local participating chapters.
Mike Christensen
Pass It On - Outdoor Mentors, Inc.
310 E 2nd
Wichita, KS 67202
316-290-8883 (Office)
316-253-7221 (Cell)
http://www.outdoormentors.org
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