Applications due Nov. 15

On Nov. 22-23, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks will host the annual Waconda Lake Youth, Women, and Celebrity Pheasant Hunt. This event includes a trap shoot and a banquet for everyone, and pheasant hunts for selected youth and women. Several professional athletes and other celebrities have accepted the invitation to participate as role models and mentors to novice hunters. Area organizations, businesses, and individuals are participating sponsors.

Morning hunts will be limited to approximately 20 youth and women hunters on Saturday and Sunday. The hunters will be drawn from applications. All interested young people age 11 through 15 and females of all ages are encouraged to apply. Hunting experience is not required. Completion of a hunter education class is not required of youth younger than 16 who will be directly supervised by a mentor. An adult guardian should accompany each young hunter. If this is not possible, one of the adult participants or sponsors will "adopt" the hunter for the day.

Participants for the 2008 event will include active-duty members of the military services stationed in Kansas who have recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Last year’s participation by members of the Ft. Riley Warrior Transition Unit and Kansas National Guard was a great way to thank the servicemen and for them to serve as role models for the young hunters.

Also planning to attend are David Segui (Baltimore Orioles, retired); Ricky Siglar (K.C. Chiefs retired); Jerry Holloway (St. Louis Cardinals football, retired); Wayne Hubbard, TV host of Urban American Outdoors; Irv Goode (Cardinals and Dolphins football retired); Galen McSpadden, Seward County Baseball and Community College Coaches Hall of Fame; Eric Williams & Herschel Turner (Cardinals football, retired), and others.

Public events scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22, also include a free trap shoot for all at Glen Elder State Park Visitor Center (1:30-5 p.m.). Everyone is welcome to attend the evening banquet which will begin at 7 p.m. at the Memorial Hall in Downs. Tickets for the banquet are $5 for youth age 15 and younger. Adult tickets are $15. Everyone is invited to participate in the trap shoot, but it is designed for beginning shooters. Shotguns will be available and ammunition provided.

The application deadline to hunt is Nov. 15. To apply, mail the Glen Elder Office, 2131 180 Rd., Glen Elder, KS 67446; email gleneldersp@wp.state.ks.us; or phone 785-545-3345.
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