Habitat & Conservation,Hunting & Heritage  |  04/04/2017

Twin Cities Youth: Registration & Sponsorships Now Available for Pheasant Hunting Camps


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For outdoors men and women, state agencies, conservation groups and others, providing ample opportunities for young kids and aspiring adults to attend Hunter Education courses is essential for restoring the historical number of America’s hunters. Preventing the continued decline of hunter participation is important for the future of conservation work in the United States, but where do we start?
 
Hunting license sales produce valuable funding each year for wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, while hunter expenditures generate billions of dollars annually for the national economy and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. The decline in participation poses an ever-increasing threat to wildlife conservation and management. Recent certified license data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suggests there are approximately 14.8 million hunters (4.57 percent of the U.S. population). This represents a significant decline in participation from 1980, when there were 16.2 million license holders (6.87 percent of the U.S. population).
 
All of the efforts made today by Pheasants Forever and other conservation groups will have little impact without future leaders participating in shooting sports. With this in mind, the Northwest Suburban Chapter of Pheasants Forever in the Twin Cities metro region is sponsoring two pheasant hunting camps (for all kids ages 11-15) in July and August – initiated by the Three Rivers Park District in Hennepin County – to help restore hunter numbers in Minnesota.
 
The Three River Park District Pheasant Hunting Camp is a unique opportunity for beginning hunters to learn the basics of pheasant hunting, biology, and using bird dogs to pursue these wily gamebirds. What’s more? Each and every participant will earn his or her Firearms Safety Certificate while taking part in a fun and educational summer camp experience!
 
Pheasant Hunting Camp Topics & Highlights:
 
  • Pheasant ecology
  • Pheasant hunting with dogs
  • Wing shooting techniques
  • DNR Firearms Safety Certification training
  • Trap shooting
  • Firearm safety instruction (Shotgun and .22 practice at local gun range)
  • All meals and most gear include
  • Rock climbing
  • Canoeing
  • Fishing and swimming
Pheasant Hunting Camp (Overnight)
  • July 24–28, #530353-00
  • Includes Thursday Overnight
  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday–Wednesday
  • 9 a.m. Thursday–Noon Friday
Pheasant Hunting Camp (Day)
  • August 21–25, #530353-01
  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday–Friday
The camp cost is $325 per child and will include all of the items listed above. For more information about pheasant hunting camp or how to register, please call (763) 559-6700 or visit https://www.threeriversparks.org/events/Groups/summer-camps.aspx.

For sponsorship opportunities provided by the Northwest Suburban Chapter of Pheasants Forever (first-come, first-serve basis) please contact Ryan Barth, Three Rivers Park District staff member, at (763) 694-7856 or Ryan.Barth@threeriversparks.org