Youth Outdoor Day - Rice Lake Rod and Gun Club

Barron County Conservation Warden Russ Fell coordinated a Youth Outdoor Day with the Rice Lake Rod and Gun club (RLRG) on September 24, 2006. Fell stated, " RLRG Club President James Croutteau, club members and at least 30 instructors from the DNR's Hunter Education program and 4-H shooting program made this event a big success for the participating youth." This event provided 147 children from the Rice Lake area instruction and opportunities to participate with many outdoor activities including; archery, air rifle, trap shooting, safe gun handling, .22 rifle target shooting, muzzle loader shooting and a pheasant hunt.

"The kids were all smiles," Fell said. One young lady was asked by a TV reporter what she thought about girls shooting archery and guns, she replied, "Girls can do anything boys can do, even shoot bows, guns and play hockey." One boy said, "This is the first time I ever shot at a flushing pheasant; it was cool just to see the dog trying to sniff it out and how the dog listened to the owner, I'll be back next year for sure."

Fell wanted to especially thank the NRA, the Shikar Safari Club Lake Superior Chapter, Rice Lake Rod and Gun, Rice Lake Men's Club, Leadership from Barron County, Rainbow Home Center, Yellow River Game Farm and Conservation Wardens Phil Dorn, Rich Thole, Jesse Ashton, Brian Knepper and Dave Swanson for their team work to make this event successful.

Click on the thumbnail to see the full size picture. Photo's courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Learn To Pheasant Hunt

On September 9, 2006, Conservation Wardens Paul Sickman from Baldwin and Rich Thole from Amery held a Learn to Pheasant Hunt program at the Forest Ridge Hunt Club. Twenty two youth from St. Croix and Polk Counties attended the event. 

The day started with classroom training that included education in firearms safety, laws and regulations, ethics, dog training, pheasant cleaning, pheasant habitat, shooting clay targets and the actual hunting of pheasants. Everyone had a great time with some students harvesting a pheasant or two. There were numerous volunteers and sponsors, who without their help and support this memorable day would not have happened. Sponsors included the Forest Ridge Hunt Club, Indianhead Chapter of Pheasants Forever (Amery), St. Croix County Sportsman’s Alliance, Polk County Sportsmen’s Club, Star Prairie Fish and Game, Gregerson’s Ace Hardware (Baldwin), Park Lakes and Land Realty of Amery, volunteers from Wisconsin DNR Hunter Education and local sports clubs.

Special thanks to Warden Supervisor Dave Hausman (Baldwin), Warden Supervisor Dave Zebro (Spooner), Conservation Warden Brian Knepper and retired Conservation Warden Jerry Wagner; their assistance during this worthy event was invaluable.

The Learn to Hunt program is administered by the Wisconsin DNR. To learn how to sponsor a Learn to Hunt event or if you have questions, contact Learn to Hunt Coordinator Ben Mott  - 920 716-6058 or by email at Benjamin.Mott@Wisconsin.gov.

Click on the thumbnail to see the full size picture. Photo's courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

"Safe Hunters of Tomorrow"

Rusk County Conservation Warden Jeremy Peery represented the Bureau of Law Enforcement at the 3rd annual Rusk County Youth Outdoor Field Day September 9th. Warden Peery says "the (field day) event went off without a hitch; forty seven hunter education graduates attended and had smiles on their faces all day long." Warden Peery mentioned to his supervisors that this event would not have been possible without the exceptional efforts provided by the 40 volunteers. Warden Peery wanted to thank Wildlife Restoration Association President Jerry Carow for donating the hunter education trailer to the "Safe Hunters of Tomorrow" organization. The trailer is fully equipped to meet the needs of any hunter education event in Rusk County.

Click on the thumbnail to see the full size picture. Photo's courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.