Youth hunter safety tournament March 15
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on March 12, 2008 1:55 PM
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will a district Youth Hunter Safety Tournament March 15 at Camp Tuscarora near Bentonville.
The event is one of nine planned across the state, paving the way to the annual state championship in April.
Team and individual scores are based on marksmanship in rifle, archery, shotgun and muzzleloader, as well as an orienteering challenge and a written test on wildlife and hunter safety.
"Just like other organized sports, there are uniforms, coaches and after-school practice," said Capt. Chris Huebner, the state hunting safety coordinator. "Both public and private schools take part, and home-schooled students and teams representing organizations such as 4-H also compete. Participation grows every year."
All competitors are graduates of the Hunter Education Program of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which also provides free courses to the general public. Courses are taught by wildlife officers and certified instructors, with information about ethics and responsibility, wildlife conservation and management, firearms, wildlife identification, survival and first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety. Completion of the course is required for novice hunters to obtain a hunting license.
For more information on either hunter education or the tournaments, visit www.ncwildlife.org, or call (919) 707-0030.