A Great Start on Forever: September 2008

People Making a Difference in Conservation

Perfect Shot

Ashland County Pheasants Forever's Upland Shooters Program

A Great Start on Forever: September 2008 We can be apathetic about the declining number of people enjoying the wonders of the great outdoors, in particular hunting and fishing. But the Ashland County Chapter of Pheasants Forever in Ohio has a better idea.

A Great Start on Forever: September 2008 This summer, the Ashland County chapter sponsored a six-week "Upland Shooters Program," helping 44 youth ages 10 to 18 learn the finer points of shooting, from safety to accuracy.

"We shot every Thursday evening, and each shooter had an individual coach standing right behind them," said Jack Carmoney, Ashland County chapter president, "We started with safety classes and graduated to actual shooting." At first they shot only two to three birds at each station, but by week three they were shooting multiple rounds of 25 each evening. "We had two shooters, including a 15-year-old girl who had never shot before, break 22 of 25!" Carmoney said, "And we had several shooters breaking 16 or more by the end of the program. The kids really seemed to enjoy the program and are looking forward to hunting this fall and to shooting again with us next spring."

A Great Start on Forever: September 2008 The shooters weren't the only ones getting into it. "While this project involved a lot of time - about four hours per night for each volunteer - both the shooters and the volunteers found it very rewarding," Carmoney said. In addition to Carmoney, volunteer members who attended the program included Gil Faircloth, Jack Spencer, Jeff Gerberic, Matt Martin, Roger Miller, Mark and Betty Rader and Jim Hair. A special thanks also goes to the Ashland Fin, Feather and Fur and Richland County Fish and Game Clubs for supporting the Upland Shooters Program.

If you have story ideas, dog photos, pre-1980 hunting photos and requests for future On The Wing consideration, please send correspondence to ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.

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