Hunter Education Skills Challenge Program Targets Youth
Are You Up For The Challenge?
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. –-(AmmoLand.com)-Are you ready for an advanced education in outdoor skills? Then take the challenge – the Hunter Education Skills Challenge to be specific. This program, open to any youth age 18 or younger that has completed their hunter education course, will be available at several upcoming events.
“Consider the Challenge program as a ‘graduate studies’ course for hunter education students,” says Jennifer Pittman, Shooting Sports Coordinator. “This program will include events that simulate realistic conditions in order to reinforce and test a young hunter’s skills.”
The Challenge has up to six components: archery, air rifle, safety trail challenge, orienteering, wildlife identification and responsibility. Participants receive scores for each component with a maximum total high score of 500. Competitions include two divisions – Junior (age 14 and younger) and Senior (age 15-18). The top 10 scoring participants at each local competition (in each Division) are eligible for the state Challenge (scheduled for Sat., Jan. 16, 2010).
All youth hunters are welcome to participate in a local Challenge if they wish – no pre-registration is required. Following is information on upcoming events (all events are on Saturdays):
- Aug. 29, Chickasawhatchee WMA, Albany, GA
- Sept. 5, Wildlife Resources Division Headquarters, Social Circle, GA
- Sept. 26, Sloppy Floyd State Park, Summerville, GA
- Oct. 3, Coopers Creek WMA Check Station, Blairsville, GA
- Oct. 10, Clybel WMA Shooting Range (Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center), Mansfield, GA
- Oct. 10, Lake Russell WMA C heck Station, Gainesville, GA
- Oct. 24, River Bend WMA Check Station, Dublin, GA
- Oct. 31, Griffin Ridge WMA Check Station, Ludowici, GA
For more information on any of these Challenge events, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com (select “Get Involved” and then “Programs”) or call 770-918-6416.