Youth

Lake Scott State Park to host youth day

Staff at Lake Scott State Park, located 14 miles north of Scott City, invite youth age 16 and younger to join in on outdoor shooting fun Sunday, Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. as part of the 2015 Southwest Kansas Youth Day. Participants will have the opportunity to shoot shotguns, BB guns, and archery equipment, as well as enjoy live snake presentations, courtesy of Fort Hays State University.

Lunch will be provided, and all registered youth will receive an event t-shirt. Youth age 9-16 will have a chance to win giveaway items including mentored hunts, shotguns, and pellet guns. Giveaways will also be available for youth 9 and under, as well.

For more information, or to register for this event, contact Manuel Torres at (620) 966-8570, or by e-mail at [email protected].

This event is made possible by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Pheasants Forever, and Extreme Fowl.

Glen Elder Wildlife Area to host youth dove hunt

The Osborne County Chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) invite young hunters to participate in an opening-weekend dove hunt. The hunt will take place early morning on Saturday, September 5, on the Glen Elder Wildlife Area. Participants can expect to enjoy plenty of shooting action as the birds flock to grain fields for morning feeding.

The hunt will be open to youth ages 10 to 16 with limited dove hunting experience. Kids who have not hunted before will be given preference to participate. Only youngsters will be hunting, and each hunter will have at least one adult mentor at their side to assist them. All hunters must be strong enough to handle their guns in a safe manner.

A managed crop field on the lake property will be reserved exclusively for this event. Hunters will meet before sunrise on the morning of the hunt at the Glen Elder Wildlife Area shop in Cawker City to organize and be paired up with adult mentors before heading to the field. After the hunt is finished, all participants will enjoy a free lunch where stories of the morning’s hunt can be re-lived and shared.

Hunters must pre-register by calling the Glen Elder Area Office at (785) 545-3345, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 1. Spots are limited, so hunters are encouraged to register early.

Some shotguns will be available for kids without one, and non-toxic 12 and 20 gauge shotgun shells will be provided. Hunters age 16 must have a hunting license and Harvest Information Program permit prior to hunting.

For more information, or to assist with this event, contact Glen Elder area manager Chris Lecuyer at (785) 545-3345 or Pheasant Forever member John Cockerham at (785) 346-6527.

Kansas Wild Turkey Federation to host JAKES Camp

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will hold its 2015 Kansas State JAKES Camp September 12-13. The event is open to youth 17 and younger and will be conducted at White Memorial Camp, 6 miles north of Council Grove, off Highway K-177.  On Saturday, youth can enjoy up to six activities, including fishing, arts and crafts, JAKES Take Aim BB gun shooting, disc golf, trap shooting, still target shooting, archery, canoeing, flint knapping, and turkey calling with three time World Champion Steve Stoltz. On Saturday evening, JAKES members can participate in the annual NWTF Kansas State JAKES (youth aged 12 and under) and Xtreme JAKES (youth aged 13 to 17) Turkey Calling Contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top three callers in each division. After the contest, Stoltz will entertain the group with his turkey hunting stories and adventures.

On Sunday, Pastor Gary Cargill will start the day with a sunrise service. Other activities include a presentation by Milford Nature Center staff and a predator calling demonstration with Knight & Hale pro staffer Mick Bowman.

The cost of the event is $20 for JAKES members, $30 for non-JAKES members (which includes a JAKES membership), and $20 for adults. Attendees may tent camp onsite (bring your own tent) Saturday night or may commute both days. For an additional fee, participants can stay in a resident cabin, which includes bunk beds and shared bath. Boys and girls will have separate cabins. There are also a few RV hookups. The camp fee includes lunch and supper on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Meals will be prepared by the White Memorial Camp kitchen staff. All youth will receive a commemorative tee shirt and win a prize in a drawing at the end of the event on Sunday.

The NWTF is a conservation organization dedicated to conserving wild turkeys, their habitat and our hunting heritage. JAKES, or Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship, is a program designed to get youth involved in conservation and hunting.

The NWTF Kansas State JAKES Camp was awarded the “Best State JAKES Event” in 2012, the “Best Special JAKES Event” in 2013 at the NWTF National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.

For more information or to receive a registration form, contact Gib Rhodes at 620-437-2012.

Special youth dove hunting opportunities abound opening weekend

If you’re looking to introduce a youngster to the joys of dove hunting, opportunities for youth-only hunts will be available throughout the state this season. Listed below are three upcoming youth dove hunts that are sure to provide your kiddo with plenty of action and a memorable time afield.

HAYS- CEDAR BLUFF WILDLIFE AREA

Hosted by: Smoky Hill Chapter of Pheasants Forever

Hunt date: Sept. 5

Registration deadline: Sept. 1. Call to register.

Age limit: 10-17

Contact: Luke Winge (785) 726-1600

A managed crop field on Cedar Bluff Wildlife Area is reserved exclusively for this youth-only event. Hunters will meet at 1 p.m. at the old Cedar Bluff Fish Hatchery to receive wingshooting instruction and meet their mentors. The group will then head to the managed dove field until sunset. After legal shooting light, all participants will return for a free BBQ dinner and lessons on how to properly clean their doves.

Space is limited and kids who have not hunted before will be given preference to participate.

If requested, shotguns can be provided. Shot shells in 12 and 20 gauge will be provided. Hunters age 16 and older must have a hunting license and Harvest Information Program permit prior to hunting.

BUNKER HILL- WILSON WILDLIFE AREA

Hosted by: Black Gold Pheasants Forever Chapter in Russell and Big Brothers, Big Sisters JT VonLintel Memorial Outdoor Mentoring Program

Hunt date: Sept. 5 (with a dinner and trapshooting instruction on Sept. 4)

Registration deadline: Sept. 2. Call to register.

Age limit: 10-16

Contact: Scott Thomasson, (785) 726-1600, or Vickie Cikanek, (785) 501-0867

A managed crop field on the lake property will be reserved exclusively for this event, providing excellent hunting opportunities for youth hunters and their mentors, who may also hunt. Hunters will meet before sunrise on the morning of the hunt at the Wilson Wildlife Area shop to check-in, pair up with mentors if needed, and pick up shotgun shells. Hunters are welcome to spend as long as they choose in the field.

Kids who have not hunted before will be given preference to participate.

Some shotguns will be available for kids without one, and non-toxic 12 and 20 gauge shotgun shells will be provided. Hunters age 16 must have a hunting license and Harvest Information Program permit prior to hunting.

1. MARYS- JEFFREY ENERGY CENTER

Hosted by: Westar Energy Green Team

Hunt date: Sept. 5-6

Registration deadline: Aug. 28. Call to register.

Age limit: 16 and younger

Contact: Barb Cornelius, (785) 575-8125

Spacious wheat and sunflower fields have been prepared to draw in doves, providing plenty of action.

Hunters will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and hunts will be scheduled as requests dictate and hunting groups can be formed. Guides will be provided for each group.

Youth hunters must bring their own shotguns and be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. Hunters age 16 must have a Kansas hunting license and Harvest Information Program permit.

Non-toxic shells will be provided.

Can’t make a scheduled hunt? Visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting,” “Where to Hunt,” and “KDWPT Dove Hunting Fields” to plan your own hunt at a managed field near you.

The Kansas dove hunting season is open Sept. 1 through Oct. 31 and Nov. 7-15. Hunters 16 and older must possess a Kansas hunting license and Harvest Information Program permit, unless exempt.

Hunters make take up to 15 doves, mourning and white-winged, single species or in combination. There is no limit on Eurasian collared or ringed turtle doves, but any taken in addition to the mourning and white-winged dove daily bag must have a fully-feathered wing attached while being transported.

Non-toxic shot may be required on KDWPT-managed dove fields. Visit ksoutdoors.com for details.

10th annual northcentral Kansas Outdoor Youth Fair

If your child enjoys all things “outdoorsy,” chances are he or she will have a blast at the upcoming 10th Annual Northcentral Kansas Outdoor Youth Fair in Osborne. This one-day, fun-filled event will take place Sept. 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to youth ages 17 and younger (all those 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult).

Activities include archery, wingshooting, flyfishing, canoeing, dog handling, trapping and many other outdoor activities.

Youth must be registered by 11 a.m. the day of the event to be provided lunch and an opportunity to win door prizes that include a lifetime hunting license, hunting and fishing trips, and a weekend at an area lake cabin.

Archery hunters 14 and older are invited to bring in their bows for tune-ups.

All equipment and supplies are provided at no charge.

The Northcentral Kansas Outdoor Youth Fair is made possible by the Osborne County Pheasants Forever Chapter, Osborne Gun Club, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Nex-Tech, and the Keith Hahn Memorial.

For more information, contact Cleo Hahn at (785) 346-4541, John Cockerham at (785) 346-6527, or Chris Lecuyer at (785) 218-7818.

What happens when young birds fledge and leave their nest?

By eNature

It’s happening all around us right now— young birds are leaving their nests and striking out on their own.

We at eNature have been watching the Osprey on the Chesapeake Bay fledging over the past few weeks.  When your nest if over water as most osprey do, you better be ready to fly when you take that first jump!

So how do all these young birds make the transition from fledgling to adult?

Family Style?

A lot of us think that baby birds grow up in a family that stays together and migrates south together. There are some species of birds that stay together after the nesting season, but they are rare.

Most young birds are totally on their own soon after they leave the nest. In fact, in many bird families, the parents migrate south long before their youngsters do.

The best examples of this are the families of most species of hummingbirds. The female raises her offspring until they are out of the nest and able to feed themselves. A few weeks later, she disappears. The youngsters are left alone to fatten up for their long migratory flight to a place in the tropics where they have never been before.

They linger at the natal feeding grounds for several more weeks, sucking up as much nectar, sugar water and tiny insects as possible before heading south.

What To Do For Food?

How do they know when to leave, where to go, how to get there and when they have arrived? There are lots of theories, but no one really knows for sure.  Herein lies one of the great mysteries of nature.

The same is true among juvenile ducks, warblers, vireos, flycatchers and thrushes. They are all deserted by their parents and left to find their way to some place in the South where there is food and habitat.

Juveniles of permanent residents such as chickadees, nuthatches, finches, and woodpeckers, are much better off. Though their parents no longer care for them, at least they are still in familiar surroundings.

And as for our ospreys on the Chesapeake?  The next few weeks are the moment of truth for them— they’ve got to learn to fish on their own.  According to some experts, an inability to master fishing is one of the biggest causes of mortality for young osprey.

Have you noticed your local birds fledging? There’s usually lots to see and hear when young birds are leaving the nest….

Youth invited to opening-day dove hunt

The Jayhawk Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation (QUWF) in Lawrence and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) invite youth age 16 and younger to register for their 8th Annual Youth Dove Hunt. The Sept. 1 opening-day hunt will begin at 3 p.m. Mentors will accompany all participants, but non-hunting family members are encouraged to attend, as well.

Non-toxic shells and eye and ear protection will be provided to participants, who are encouraged to dress in camouflage or dark-colored clothing. Shotguns may be provided upon request.

For location details, and to register, contact QUWF member Dr. John Hill at (785) 841-9555, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Participants who are 16 must have a Kansas hunting license, unless exempt by law, and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. For more information, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Services / Education / Hunter.”

The dove season is Sept. 1-Oct. 31 and Nov. 7-15. For information regarding migratory bird hunting regulations, license and stamp requirements, legal methods of take, non-toxic shot and more, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Hunting / Migratory Birds / Federal Migratory Bird Regulations.”

Pheasants Forever to host youth instructional shooting clinic

From Outdoor Daily News 

The Smoky Hill Chapter of Pheasants Forever, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, invite youth of all ages to attend a free instructional shooting clinic on Saturday, August 8. The clinic will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Hays City Sportsmen’s Club and all equipment will be provided.

Participants will receive instruction with shotguns and pellet rifles in a controlled, safe, live-fire environment guided by experienced instructors. Participants do not need to preregister and lunch will be provided.
For additional information, contact Smoky Hill Pheasants Forever Chapter member Luke Winge at (785) 726-1600.

This event is part of the Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever No Child Left Indoors (NCLI) initiative, which encourages chapters to collaborate with conservation partners and provide youth and their families opportunities to learn about our outdoor traditions and conservation ethic.

Nationwide, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters hold more than 1,000 youth events a year, connecting more than 50,000 youth to the outdoors. They reach out in their communities to sponsor youth mentor hunts, outdoor conservation days, shooting sports, conservation camps, fishing tournaments, outdoor expos, hunter education classes, habitat projects and much more.

To find a chapter near you, visit www.pheasantsforever.org and www.quailforever.org.

Youth Outdoor Festival in Hays August 15

If you’re interested in introducing your child to the world of shooting sports, hunting, fishing and other outdoor-related activities, mark your calendar for August 15. Hays area businesses, conservation groups and shooting sports groups have teamed together to offer a free day of target shooting and outdoor activities for youth 17 and younger at the 18th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival. The event will be held Saturday, August 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club located 1/4 mile north of I-70 Exit 157.

Youth will learn about and experience trap and skeet shooting, archery equipment, air rifles and BB guns, muzzleloaders, small-bore rifles, and more. There will also be a BASS casting competition, paintball target shooting, and a furharvesting demonstration.

Youth will be closely supervised at each station by expert volunteer instructors, and all equipment will be supplied.

Hunter Education certification is not required, and youth must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration for the event can be completed onsite prior to participation. Lunch will be provided, and youth will have a chance to win prizes, including guns, fishing tackle and other outdoor equipment.

For more information, contact Kent Hensley at (785) 726-3212 or Troy Mattheyer at (785) 726-4212.

Registration open for assisted deer hunt at Tuttle Creek Lake

Youth and disabled hunters have until July 30 to apply for a limited number of spots in an assisted deer hunt at Tuttle Creek Lake.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Riley County Fish and Game Association, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Tuttle Creek Lake are accepting applications for the 2015 Tuttle Creek Youth/Disabled Assisted Deer Hunt, September 12 and 13. The hunt, which is offered free of charge, is open to resident youth age 11-16 and hunters with a certified disability. Applications are due July 30.

Participants will need a deer permit, and, if required by law, a hunting license and hunter education certificate. Assistance meeting these requirements, including scholarship funding to purchase a hunting license and deer permit, can be provided.

If needed, rifles and ammunition will also be available to hunters. Each participant will be guided by an experienced hunter, and arrangements have been made with area lockers to provide basic processing free of charge. Other items provided for this hunt include accessible hunting blinds, hunting locations, hunter orange hats and vests, and transportation to the field.

Participants will be required to attend a firearm safety presentation and sight-in at the Fancy Creek Shooting Range at 4 p.m., Sunday, August 16.

For more information, or to obtain an application, contact USACE natural resource specialist Steve Prockish at (785) 539-8511, ext. 3167, or by e-mail at [email protected]

This event is made possible by Friends of Fancy Creek Range, Kansas City Chapter of Safari Club International, Kansas State Rifle Association and the Tuttle Creek Lake Association.