By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
An organization dedicated to introducing youth to the outdoors through hunting hopes to hold a clinic in northwest Missouri, if it can get the volunteers it needs.
Executive Director Colton Zirkle with the Missouri Hunting Heritage Foundation says the foundation holds weekend clinics for youth who might not otherwise get out and go hunting.
“We gauge the entire clinic, the entire thing is made for people who don’t have a hunting background,” Zirkle says during an appearance on the KFEQ Hotline. “It’s certainly open to people who do, but we’re best suited for those people who don’t really have much experience in the outdoors.”
Zirkle says he has a sponsor and a landowner to hold a clinic in northwest Missouri, he only needs the volunteers.
Zirkle says there is just something about teaching a young person who might have never fired a gun or gone on a hunt the proper way to go about it.
“And then we put a live firearm in their hands with the range safety officer and the instructors and to watch them break a clay target, a moving clay target, and just to see their faces change and it’s like, oh you know, this is so cool,” Zirkle says.
Zirkle says youth who participate can earn their Missouri Hunter Education Certificate. The weekend clinics teach firearm safety on Saturday and lead youth on a mentor-guided hunt on Sunday.
Zirkle says it’s a joy to see youth get excited about hunting.
“And that’s a huge reason why a lot of our mentors are involved. Some of our partners talk about being unplugged and outdoors,” Zirkle says. “We never see a cell phone come out during our clinics with these kids.”
If you are interested in volunteering, you are urged to contact Zirkle at the Missouri Hunting Heritage Foundation.
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