Youth in Upstate New York Experience the Life-Changing Power of the Outdoors at Mentored Hunt
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The NWTF Borderline Longbeards Chapter in Norfolk, New York, partnered with police officers from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to host their annual youth waterfowl and pheasant hunt, a two-day event immersed in the life-changing power of the outdoors.
This year, the chapter welcomed 12 youth attendees for the event, beginning with a classroom portion at the Massena Rod and Gun Club and returning a week later to participate in a morning waterfowl hunt and an afternoon pheasant hunt.
At the educational seminar, youth learned about the ethics and safety of hunting game birds. Environmental Conservation Officers and mentors also provided a thorough understanding of game birds and techniques for hunting waterfowl and pheasants. Mentors reviewed topics like using the correct shotgun load, the correct direction to point one’s firearms and hunting with pheasant dogs.
The following week, the youngsters returned at dawn for a mentored waterfowl hunt. Around mid-morning, groups reconvened for a break before they ventured back into the field for the mentored pheasant hunt. This opportunity provided the kids with a unique firsthand experience of hunting with trained dogs. The pheasants were all released the day before by the state agency. Each attendee shot at least one bird each, which allowed everyone to experience the joy of a successful harvest. This also provided attendees with the opportunity to learn how to field dress.
“The weather was perfect,” said Jeff Root, Borderline Longbeards Chapter president and banquet chair. “It was just a beautiful day.”
Root has been a passionate hunting mentor since he started taking his grandkids out into the field. Before that, he was introduced to turkey hunting back in 1990 when he said no one in his area was all that interested in hunting turkeys. It became a passion for him, and he started going out with his buddies as the wild turkey population in his area continued to grow. By 1999, Root was one of the founding members of the NWTF Borderline Longbeards Chapter. When his chapter started doing mentored hunts, Root was always happy to help, and, now, he feels like he gets more out of it than the youth.
“There is so much other stuff for these kids to do these days, so we have to provide them with an opportunity to get out and try hunting,” Root said. “Otherwise, they might not be able to try hunting. When I was a kid, I lived for hunting with my grandparents, aunts and uncles. Now, kids don’t have time anymore or don’t get exposed to this stuff. I want them to explore hunting to see if it’s something they’d like to do and go from there. Everything is so fast compared to when I was young, and being in the woods is a good way to slow down.”
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats and Healthy Harvests for future generations.