Quail Unlimited, Big Brothers/Sisters sponsor hunt
Sherry Joyce was surprised to learn that hunting is one of the safest sports around.
"When it comes to hunting, people are so safety conscience that it's actually safer than bowling," said Joyce, a representative with Big Brothers /Big Sisters of Marion County (BBBSMC) .
The local Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization partnered Saturday morning with the Cottonwood Valley Quails Unlimited Chapter to sponsor the county's first-ever "Pass It On" youth hunt.
The Pass It On program allows hunters to take children and teach them about outdoor activities. Eight children, ages six to 15, attended the activity.
Dale Ehlers discussed the goals of Cottonwood Valley Quails Unlimited which include preserving the habitat and working with youth.
Marvin Peterson, a conservation officer with Kansas Wildlife and Parks, talked to the children about safety in the field. He discussed the privilege of hunting and public hunting access in Kansas.
Jeff Soyez, Ehlers, and Stacey Collett with the Quails Unlimited group demonstrated safe gun handling and skeet shooting.
Afterward, all participants had the opportunity to shoot skeet. Following lunch, the children who had passed hunter's safety courses were allowed to hunt pheasants.
"They harvested two pheasants," Joyce said.
Other members of Cottonwood Valley Quails Unlimited participating in the event were Alan Meyers, Jack Richmond, Matt Richmond, Bill Sherbert, Stacey Collett, and Rocky Hett.
