BLACK GOLD CHAPTER OF PHEASANTS FOREVER TO HOST APPRECIATION EVENT

Participants can enjoy a day of shooting, socializing, and supporting youth during this annual event

RUSSELL - The Black Gold Chapter of Pheasants Forever will host its 8th Annual Appreciation Event Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013 at LaSada Sporting Clays and Hunting Service, six miles southwest of Russell. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to both members and non-members. Proceeds from the event will go toward youth activities, local scholarships, and the Black Gold Pheasants Forever youth outreach trailer.

The event will kick off with a Lewis Class Sporting Clays Shoot at 9:00 a.m. There is a $50 fee to enter, with $10 of the entry fee going back to the Lewis Class Purse. Shooters may come and go as they please, and can shoot as much or as little as they would like. All participants will have a chance to win prizes, including a cash prize, and one lucky youth will win a youth-model shotgun. There will be free instructional shooting for youth 16 and younger and women, shells and targets provided.

Other activities for the event include a youth archery range with 3D targets, trail walks, and bird watching.

Lunch will also be provided to those in attendance from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Curt Counts at (785) 483-1627, LaSada at (785) 483-3758, or the Sportsman’s Corner at(785) 445-4000.

HAYS YOUTH OUTDOOR FESTIVAL AUG. 17

Youth age 17 and younger can enjoy a day of casts and blasts during this annual festival

HAYS­– The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism along with Hays area conservation groups and businesses are again sponsoring a free target shooting and outdoor activities for youth 17 and under. The 16th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Aug.17, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Hays City Sportsman's Club a quarter mile north of I-70, Exit 157.

Youth can try trap shooting, skeet shooting, archery, air rifle/BB guns, muzzleloaders, small bore rifles, computerized laser shot target shooting, and even paintball target shooting. Equipment, targets and ammunition will be provided free of charge. There will also be a B.A.S.S. casting competition, as well as several furharvesting demonstrations.

Hunter Education certification is not required to attend, however youth participants must be accompanied by an adult. Youth will be closely supervised at each event station by a volunteer who is an expert at the specific skill.

In addition to the free shooting opportunities, several door prizes, including guns, fishing tackle and other outdoor equipment will be given away. Lunch will also be provided.

Registration for this event must be completed on site prior to participating in any of the activities.

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

20th ANNUAL KINSLEY GUN CLUB KIDS KLASSIC SEPT. 15

Awards await young shooters; registration deadline Sept. 10

KINSLEY — On Saturday, Sept. 15, the Kinsley Gun Club will host its 19th Annual Kids Klassic trap shooting tournament for young shooters. Each youngster will fire at 100 targets. A $25 entry fee will include a custom T-shirt, lunch, and a chance to win a door prize, including three guns. The entry fee does not include shells.

This event is open to all youngsters through high school. Shooters will compete for trophies, Olympic-style medals, shotgun shells, and other prizes in four age groups for individuals and five-person teams. Ten $100 savings bonds will be awarded by drawing, so everyone has a chance to win. Other awards include 29 flats of shotgun shells and 36 trophies for four age groups, with special awards to 4-H members. The top three five-shooter teams earn trophies and shells. A trophy and prize will be reserved for the top girl shooter, as well.

The shoot starts at the Dodge City Gun club with 50 16-yard targets, then moves to Kinsley for lunch, 50 handicap targets, and the prize presentation.

While everyone high school age and younger is welcome to attend, participants who enter must be strong enough to handle a shotgun safely and are expected to know the basic rules and etiquette of trapshooting. The shoot is not for beginners.

The registration deadline for the event is Sept. 10. Entries (including T-shirt sizes and number of adults for lunch) should be provided in advance. To enter, receive an official program, receive more information, or find out where to practice close to home, phone toll free at 1-888-324-5445, emailfranko@gbta.net, or write to Frank O’Brien, 115 Sunnyside Drive, Lewis, KS 67552.

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NRA YOUTH HUNTER EDUCATION CHALLENGE MAY 5

National Rifle Association (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Four shooting and four responsibility areas of competition offered to participants

WELLINGTON — On May 5, the National Rifle Association (NRA) will conduct its Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) at the Davis Pond, 5 miles north of Mayfield in Sumner County. (From Highway 160, go north 3 miles on Anson Road, west 1 mile on 40th, and north 1.5 miles on Mayfield Road.) This competition will include two groups: a Youth Division, ages 10-14, and a Senior Division, ages 15-18. Competitors may be 19 if they are enrolled in high school and turn 19 during the school year. Hunter education certification is required except for 10- and 11-year-old participants.

This a comprehensive program created to promote outdoor skills and safety training in young hunters. Youth who have received their state hunter education certificate are eligible to compete for awards and prizes in eight different skill areas. Competition consists of four responsibility events and four shooting events, including rifle, archery, muzzleloader, shotgun, ethics, wildlife identification, orienteering, and safety on the trail. All skill levels are welcome to participate.

Registration forms may be found online at kansasyhec.org/forms.html. Entry form, $20 early entry fee, copy of birth certificate, and copy of hunter safety education certificate must be post marked no later than April 20. Forms will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. A limited number of participant slots will be available. Mail registration forms to SC KS YHEC, c/o Jarrod Davis, 747 N. Anson Rd., Wellington, KS 67152. On-site registrants will be on standby should participant slots become full. On-site registration fee is $30. More information may be found online at http://kansasyhec.org. Parents are encouraged to stay and enjoy the event. For more information, email KansasYHEC@gmail.com.

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HAYS ORGANIZATIONS PLAN YOUTH OUTDOOR FESTIVAL

Image via Wikipedia Shotgun, rifle, archery shooting and fishing and furharvesting demonstrations highlight event
HAYS — On Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hays area conservation groups, businesses, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will offer a free day of target shooting and outdoor activities for youth ages 17 and younger. Called the 14th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival, the event will be held at the Hays City Sportsmen's Club 1/4 mile north of I-70, Exit 157.
All targets, shooting materials, and equipment will be supplied for the event. Trap, skeet, archery, air rifle/BB gun, muzzleloader, small-bore rifle, computerized laser shot target, and paintball shooting will be offered. Furharvesting demonstrations will complement the event.
This is an excellent opportunity to introduce youth to the world of shooting sports, hunting, and furharvesting. Hunter education certification is not required, but youth participants must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers specializing in their field of shooting will closely supervise youth at each shooting station. Registration for the event will be completed on site, and participants can enjoy a free lunch.
In addition to the free shooting opportunities and lunch, several door prizes, guns, fishing tackle, and other outdoor equipment will be given away. For more information phone Kent Hensley at 785-726-3212, email kent.hensley@ksoutdoors.com, or phone Troy Mattheyer at 785-726-4212.

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TUTTLE CREEK SHOOTING RANGE GETS 50-METER LANE

Fancy Creek Range gets upgrade with help of grants
MANHATTAN — The Friends of Fancy Creek Range will dedicate a new 50-meter shooting lane on Saturday, April 16, at 10 a.m. at the range in Tuttle Creek State Park, near Manhattan. The range dedication is free, but regular range fees will apply for those who want to test their skills on the new lane.

The Fancy Creek Range 50-meter lane was constructed with grants from the federal Wildlife Restoration Act, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Justin Corbet Shooting Foundation, and the National Rifle Association (NRA) Foundation.

During the year, the range hosts a variety of events and services, such as NRA Kids Day and Women on Target, from the Women of the NRA. The range also offers range safety and officer training, 50- and 100-meter rifle lanes, 7-, 10-, and 22-meter pistol lanes, and rimfire silhouette shooting.

The Fancy Creek Range is located approximately one-half mile east of the junction of U.S. Highway 77 and Kansas Highway 16. Because the range is located within Tuttle Creek State Park, a park permit is required to enter. The range is normally open the first and third weekends and the fourth Thursday of every month.

For more range information, contact Kerry Moore, Friends of Fancy Creek Range, at 785-485-5527.

NRA YOUTH HUNTER EDUCATION CHALLENGE MAY 14

Event designed to enhance skills already learned in hunter education classes
WICHITA — On Saturday, May 14, the Chisholm Trail Antique Gun Association (CTAGA) will conduct their annual NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) beginning with check-in at 7:30 a.m. and running throughout the day. The event will take place at the CTAGA Gun Range, northeast of Wichita off of K-254 highway near the Sedgwick-Butler county line, 15090 East 69th Street North in Wichita.

Youth 18 years old and younger are encouraged to attend the event. All participants must have completed a basic state hunter education course and present proof of hunter education certification. No prior hunting experience is required, but participants must be able to shoulder and control firearms.

Participants will compete in junior (age 14 and younger) or senior (age 15 through 18) categories. While the YHEC has a competitive side, the focus of the program is the personal challenge of improvement and the advancement of skills introduced in a basic hunter education course. Challenge events include the following:

• shotgun course with clay targets, 12- and 20- gauge shotguns only, no adjustable cheek stocks or butt plates;
• muzzle-loading course with life-size game targets at 20 to 70 yards, .50 caliber muzzleloaders, ammunition, and No. 11 percussion caps provided. Participants may provide their own muzzleloader (.54 caliber or smaller) and respective balls and patches. In-line muzzleloaders with saboted bullets allowed but bullets and supplies not provided. No scopes allowed.
• light rifle (.22 caliber) course with life-size game targets at 15 to 60 yards. Equipment is limited to rifles designed for field use and hunting. Scopes no greater than 4X are allowed. High-velocity .22 ammo will be provided;
• archery course with 3-D game animal targets from 5 to 40 yards. Participants may bring their own bows and arrows. Some equipment restrictions include no more than six sight pins, no magnified sights, only one stabilizer 12 inches or shorter, field points only. Recurve bows will be provided. All compound bows will be shot at the longer distances. Compound bow shooters must bring their own arrows.
• wildlife identification to test knowledge of Kansas wildlife from animal mounts, hides, bird wings, tracks, horns/antlers, and other evidence. No identification guides are allowed.
• safety trail to test safe hunting and gun handling skills, game laws, and hunter ethics.

The cost of registration is $15, which includes all ammunition. (Do not bring ammunition unless allowed on above list.) All equipment and firearms will be provided if needed. The registration deadline is May 7, but space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. A light lunch will be provided for participants, volunteers, and parents. Awards will be presented at the completion of the challenge.

To register, mail a check and registration form to Jim Fry, 116 E. Sandhill Rd., Derby, KS 67037. Make checks payable to Jim Fry. For more information or registration forms, phone Jim Fry at 316-788-5026 or email yhec@att.net.

This event is sponsored by NRA Foundations Inc., Heartland Friends of the NRA, the Chisholm Trail Antique Gun Association, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, and Parks, and the Kansas Wildlife Officers Association.

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