SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Over the last two decades one of the biggest pushes nationally by state wildlife agencies and makers of hunting and fishing gear was to get more youth involved in outdoor activities. Observers detected a “nature deficit disorder” running unchecked in the wired generation.
The one thing which may have been overlooked in the widespread effort to get kids engaged in hunting and fishing was a lack of people to teach them how.
“That’s what we’re finding out in our hunter safety classes and in the communities where our officers work,” said Colonel Jerry Jenkins, head of law enforcement for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “We run into single-parent children in our classes who are interested in hunting and come to our class, but they don’t have anyone to take them.”
Jenkins said after discussion with a number of officers, the law enforcement section created the new Youth Hunting Program. The program pairs up a child interested in learning how to hunt with a Natural Resources Police officer as a mentor.
“Most of our officers are more than willing to work with the youth of West Virginia,” said Jenkins. “I’m sure as it expands we’ll have officers who are more than willing to participate in the program.”
The agency plans to launch the program this weekend with the annual Youth Squirrel Hunting day set for Saturday. Any child between the ages of 8 and 17 who has completed the West Virginia Hunter Education Course and have a valid hunting license, if required, can apply to be part of the program. The young hunter would need to contact any of the Division of Natural Resources District Offices to make the application.
“We’re hoping to expand this,” Jenkins said. “We decided to start it with the youth squirrel hunting season to see how much interest we get, but we’re willing to try it in the youth deer season. I think that would probably be more popular with the youth.”
“Youth who enter the program will learn how to hunt safely, legally and ethically,” said Jenkins. “They also will learn how to track and field dress game, appreciate nature firsthand and make new friends. We expect these youth hunts will provide experiences and memories that will last a lifetime for both the kids and the officers.”