The youth hunt that was held this past weekend was a big success.  Five out of nine kids harvested a doe and the ones that didn't still saw deer & turkeys.  The problem is that most of them had horns, which were not allowed on this hunt.  I think that all five kids killed their first deer

 

Everyone had a good time and were well fed.  I hope our upcoming Wheelin' Sportsmen weekend goes as well!  As you can see, the kids had a good time.

 

The weekend was free to all nine youth, parents, guides and volunteers, courtesy of The Future of Hunting in Florida, Inc. and donations by Sportsman's Warehouse (Bill Colvard) and JSS Enterprises, Inc. (Steve Shafer).  In the picture above, Richard Bush is the big fella on the left and his son Noah is the one on the right lifting the deer.  Richard approached me at the open house at Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center last February and confessed that he didn't know the first thing about hunting but his kid wanted to learn.  The kid (and Dad) are now officially hooked on hunting!  If you know anyone else who is in a similar situation, refer them to me or Bill Cline or Kenny Barker.  Kenny told me they are planning another youth hunt for 20 youth at some of the plantations north of Monticello (Pinkney Hill, Dixie, Allen Boyd's).  Great opportunity for a kid to kill his or her first deer!

-John