Youth Outdoor Festival In Hays August 20

ELLIS – 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 Saturday, August 20. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hays area businesses, conservation groups and shooting sports groups will offer a free day of target shooting and outdoor activities for youth 17 and younger at the 19th Annual Youth Outdoor Festival. The event will be conducted at the Hays City Sportsman’s Club, ¼ 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 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, but 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.

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Pheasants Forever to Host Youth Instructional Shooting Clinic

HAYS ­– 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.

KINSLEY KIDS KLASSIC SEPT. 20

Youth invited for day of shotgun shooting, food, and prizes

PRATT– The 22nd Kinsley Kids Klassic, an annual trapshooting event, will be held Saturday, Sept 20. The event is open to youth shooters through high school age, including 2014 graduates. Cost to attend is $25 and includes 100 targets, lunch, event t-shirt and door prize. Registrations must be received by Sept. 15.

Competitors will first shoot 50 16-yard targets at the Dodge City Gun Club, followed by lunch in Kinsley, and 50 handicap targets at the Kinsley Gun Club.

Every shooter will get a door prize, including a chance to win one of four guns, which will be awarded by drawing. Thirty-four Cabela’s gift certificates and Olympic-style medals will be given in each of four age groups for individual shooters. The top three teams will earn trophies and shotgun shells for their program. Special trophies will be reserved for young ladies and 4-H members.

For more information on this unique event, or to register, contact Kinsley Gun Club secretary, Frank O’Brien, toll free at(888) 324-5445.

Information for getting Families in the Outdoors

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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