15th Annual Pheasant Hunt for Youth & Women at Kansas’ Waconda Lake December 8
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. is sponsoring their annual pheasant hunting event for youth and women Dec. 8 at Waconda Lake, also known as Glen Elder Reservoir. The event will begin at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday with breakfast at the Hopewell Church basement in Glen Elder State Park. Breakfast will be followed by a pre-hunt safety talk before participants are divided into hunting groups. The hunters, guides, and mentors will then head out to various hunting areas around the lake. A noon meal will be provided by the Waconda Lake Association.
Women of any age and youth 11–16 are eligible and encouraged to apply for this hunt. This hunt is geared toward providing a comfortable and positive hunting environment for new or inexperienced hunters. Previous hunting experience is not required, and shotguns and ammunition can be provided. To apply, contact the Glen Elder Area Office at 785-545-3345 (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays) by December 3, 2012. Forty applicants will be selected to participate in the Saturday hunt. If there are more applicants, an additional hunt may be scheduled for Sunday morning, December 9.
A free trap shoot will also be offered on Saturday afternoon from 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm. The trap shoot, which will be held just west of the KDWPT Glen Elder Area Office, is open to the public and is intended for new and beginning shooters.
Another unique aspect of this event is that each group of pheasant hunters will get to hunt alongside a special guest who has been invited to serve as a hunting mentor for their group. This list is currently being put together, but these individuals may be professional athletes, television personalities, or military personnel that have recently returned from deployment.
There will be a hunter’s banquet on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Downs. The banquet will include a meal, prizes for the hunters, and more opportunity for the hunters to interact with the special guests. All participants are invited to attend and will be asked to RSVP for the banquet when they sign up for the hunt.
For more information, contact Chris Lecuyer at the KDWPT Glen Elder Area Office 785-545-3345.
