Thursday, July 19, 2001

Youth hunt weekends are a good way to teach, spend time with kids

Now is the time to begin planning a youth hunt.
   If you already have a place to hunt, you could simply go out on your own during the special youth-only season, scheduled for Oct. 27-28 statewide.
   Or you could take your chances by applying for one of the many lottery hunts offered by Texas Park and Wildlife. Hundreds of spots are available at wildlife management areas throughout the state. I'll post the hunts and application deadlines with this column.
   A third option is to get you and a youngster involved in Texas Wildlife Association's youth hunting program.
   Since 1995, TWA has hosted more than 70 annual hunts and about 1,000 kids each year. Attention to safety, hunting ethics and parent-child bonding are fundamentals of the program. The San Antonio-based organization will continue to promote hunting traditions through TWA-sponsored hunts for a limited number of young people accompanied by an adult.
   But the association cannot handle the growing interest. It's time to expand, says TWA Executive Director David Langford.
   Youth hunts
   To reach more kids, TWA - which has partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife - is looking to enlist community groups and train individuals throughout Texas on how to plan and conduct youth hunts. These outings can be anything from an afternoon of wingshooting for doves or a weekend adventure, with camping and hunting hog, turkey, javelina, deer, etc.
   They're also looking for landowners willing to host youth hunts on their property. A youth hunt is the best deer-management tool I know of for thinning the herd of does or unwanted bucks.
   Huntmasters
   So far, little response has come from the Corpus Christi area in the way of volunteers or hunting land.
   The primary need is for huntmasters. These are adult role models, familiar with hunting and willing to take charge of a hunt. Potential huntmasters will undergo extensive background checks.
   Additional volunteers also are needed to help coordinate hunts. Ideally, a parent or other adult accompanies each youngster during hunts. The goal is one-on-one supervision.
   TWA trains huntmasters during a weekend in the field. Training sessions are scheduled as needed. Langford tells me that if enough Corpus Chrsiti area volunteers come forward, TWA will set up a local training course before the season starts.
   Once trained, you can either strike out on your own or maintain a relationship with TWA for insurance purposes or for technical support.
   Existing organizations such as YMCA, church groups, 4-H clubs, etc. are encouraged to start their own youth-hunting programs, sanctioned by TWA.
   Contact Jerry Warden at (800) 839-9453 for more information or to volunteer. If you'd like to speak with a local huntmaster, call Ruben Rosales at 774-1179.
   Weekend trips
   Another way to bond with your child in the field is to purchase a weekend hunting trip.
   The only outfitter to contact me with an October youth-hunting opportunity is Stan Smiley at 5 Star Hunting.com.
   For $1,000, you and a child can spend two nights at a hunting camp, cook meals together, hang around a campfire and shoot at an impressive array of game. Smiley will even provide pointers on or hands-on assistance with field dressing your animals if needed.
   Use of this 6,600-acre Webb County ranch, which is about 2¤ hours from Corpus Christi, will be restricted to youth hunting only during the last weekend in October. Only a handful of spots are available. Two spots already have been donated to a young man and young lady who won a game calling contest at the recent Quail Unlimited national convention in Dallas.
   Included in the price is a buck, eight points or better, a doe, a hog, a javelina and unlimited varmits. The bunkhouse has a full kitchen so hunters and parents can bond while preparing meals together, Smiley said.
   A 100-yard shooting range is available for practice shooting. Hunting rifles are limited to bores of .25 caliber or greater to guard against unnecessary wounding of game.
   Call Smiley at (361) 242-9822.
   Anyone who would like similar youth-hunting opportunities posted in future columns should call or e-mail me.
  
  
  

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