Nov. 17, 2011

Bird hunting, trap shooting, and meals to be shared with soldiers and celebrities

GLEN ELDER — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc., are sponsoring an annual pheasant hunting event for youth and women at Glen Elder Reservoir, in Mitchell County. The event will begin early on both Saturday and Sunday mornings with a hunter breakfast at the Hopewell Church basement in Glen Elder State Park.

Breakfast will be followed by a pre-hunt safety talk, then participants will be divided into hunting groups. Each day, hunters, guides, and mentors will head out to various areas around Glen Elder Reservoir and hunt until noon, when the Waconda Lake Association will provide lunch.

Women of any age and youth ages 11 through 16 are eligible and encouraged to apply for this hunt, which provides a comfortable and positive hunting environment for new or inexperienced hunters. Previous hunting experience is not required, and some shotguns and ammunition can be provided to applicants who do not have access to their own equipment.

Applications can be made by contacting the Glen Elder Area Office at 785-545-3345 (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays) by Friday, Dec. 2. No more than 40 applicants will be selected to participate in one of the two morning hunts.

A free trap shoot will also be offered on Saturday afternoon from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The trap shoot will be held just west of the KDWPT Glen Elder Area Office. Although open to anyone interested, the trap shoot is also designed for new and beginning shooters.

Each group of pheasant hunters will hunt alongside a few “hero/celebrities” who have been invited to serve as hunting mentors. This list is currently being assembled, but they may be former athletes, TV personalities, or military personnel who have recently returned from deployment.

A hunter’s banquet will be held Saturday night at Memorial Hall in Downs. The banquet will include a meal, prizes for the hunters, and more opportunities for the hunters to interact with the hero/celebrities. All event participants are invited to attend and will be asked to RSVP for the banquet when they sign up for the hunt.

For more information, or to volunteer to help with this event, phone Chris Lecuyer at the KDWPT Glen Elder Area Office, 785-545-3345.

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