Our free annual youth training clinics for shotguns and hunting with bird dogs is offered to 16 youth and two alternates between the ages of 10 and 17. At the first clinic they are given classes on gun and range safety, the different shotguns, ammunition, proper loading and mounting of the shotgun and lead times on targets. Youth model shotguns are used for this event. There are a total of four shotgun clinics where they are observed to ensure their gun properly fits them and they are learning safe carrying and shooting techniques. This leads up to the pheasant hunt where they have a chance to hunt live birds in a safely controlled environment for free. We provide the four free shotgun clinics for the kids to improve their shooting capabilities and improve the safety of the program prior to the hunt.
The events for the hunt day start at the Central Idaho Rod and Gun Club with paperwork and introductions of the people involved and event sponsors. The youth are given a reminder class on shotguns, focusing on how to safely handle and load shotguns and the different types of shot shells. Next are classes on safely carrying a gun around gundogs, how to keep a straight line while hunting, shooting lanes, and when to shoot or when not to shoot. The instructions also include the differences between pointing and flushing dogs. Both types of dogs are used at the event so they get to see both at work. Dogs brought in for this event are NAVHDA UT and AKC Senior or Master Level qualified. Lastly the class covers local laws for the birds being hunted and how to be a responsible hunter, including taking care of the land-owner property we use.
Once the classroom work is done the kids go to the range and shoot for the fourth time while being supervised to ensure they know how to safely handle the shotgun. We then feed everybody lunch. After lunch we move to the landowner’s field to start the hunt. Two kids hunt on either side of the dog handler with an adult safety with each kid. The kids are allowed to hunt until they get a bird or we run out of birds. Eight kids that live the farthest away will hunt on the first day and the other eight will come back the next day for the hunt. This event is open for all kids. Kids that have never attended will go on the first list to attend and any kid that has attended prior may return if all the 16 slots are not filled with first time attendees. They must call in to get on the return list.