MOYHEC

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By John Muckerman (Reprinted with permission of the Outdoor Guide Magazine, 505 S. Ewing, St. Louis, MO 63103) Hunting is one of those pastimes that can provide immediate enjoyment for the beginner, while at the same time offering a potential lifetime of challenge and adventure. It ’s like the proverbial stream, shallow enough to allow for the novice to wade and frolic, yet deep enough to permit the experienced veteran to dive, swim and never touch bottom. Many consider the quest to improve their hunting skills as one of the most fulfilling aspects of the sport. Imagine a program that encourages youth to not only learn basic hunting skills, but also emphasizes hunter safety and sportsmanship. Imagine a program that includes all aspects of hunting skills, a program that develops well-rounded, well-trained, ethical hunters. Imagine a competition that provides camaraderie while testing marksmanship and responsibility skills at a state and international level. Imagine a program that could build a lasting bond between you and your child. By the way, this program could also help insure the future of hunting as a legal, accessible pastime. The program that offers all this and more is the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC); and, as far as I ’m concerned, it was godsend for my son and me. My son, Nick, was barely out of diapers when he developed an interest in hunting. That interest quickly grew into a healthy passion. The challenge for me was to educate my son in hunter safety, help him develop effective hunting skills, instill a code of ethics and somehow fuel his insatiable passion to hunt. Nick and I heard about the Youth Hunter Education Challenge from Jan Morris, the NRA Missouri state YHEC coordinator. YHEC participants take part in eight events simulating the most true-to-life hunting conditions possible, from firing at life-size game targets with rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and bows to going afield learning techniques of wildlife identification and testing their map-and-compass and hunter safety skills. The competition tests skills and knowledge that all responsible hunters should develop. The 2001 Missouri YHEC event will take place in Jefferson City at the United Sportsman ’s Club on June 23-24. Although the two-day competition is our destination, I ’m sure, as usual, the journey will be half the fun. Unlike some sports where the practice is pure drudgery, shooting 3D archery, sporting clays, 22-rifle and muzzleloader is not exactly work for most youth. In the past we have enjoyed countless hours practicing at local ranges. We ’ve also joined archery leagues, shot 3D tournaments and registered trap shoots. We have taken classes on orienteering, hunter safety, and bowhunter safety. We ’ve visited wildlife exhibits and read numerous books on wildlife identification. For several years, Nick was a member of a YHEC team at Arnold Rifle and Pistol Club. This helped him immeasurably and was a lot of fun as Nick received training from knowledgeable, dedicated volunteers. It also provided accountability, discipline, a great place to shoot and a chance to meet others that share a love for hunting and the shooting sports.

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