District Youth Hunter Skills Tournament set for March 21

State championship set for April 25 in Ellerbe

RALEIGH —The John Lentz Hunter Education Complex on Millstone Road near Ellerbe will host one of nine district-level Youth Hunter Education Skills tournaments that test young outdoorsman and women in rifle, shotgun and archery marksmanship, as well as orienteering and general wildlife knowledge.

Photo by Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Mackenzie Eubanks, of the Smyrna School Shooting Team, lets an arrow fly from 15 yards out last April at the 36th annual Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournament at Millstone 4-H Center hosted by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

The Richmond County event is scheduled for March 21 and is coordinated through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. This marks the 37th year for the popular statewide pre-collegiate shooting sports events.

Hundreds of middle school and high school students take part in the events each year.

The 2015 schedule:
* March 7, Chatham Wildlife Club near Bear Creek, Chatham County (District 5)
* March 14, New Hanover County Law Enforcement Officers Association Range in Castle Hayne, New Hanover County (District 2)
* March 14, Rose Hill Farms near Nashville, Nash County (District 3)
* March 21, Lentz Hunter Education Complex near Ellerbe (District 6)
* March 21, Catawba Valley Wildlife Club near Vale, Catawba County (District 8)
* March 21, Polk County Gun Club near Columbus, Polk County (District 9)
* March 21, Hunting Creek Preserve in Harmony, Iredell County (District 7)
* March 17, Coharie Shooting Range near Clinton, Sampson County (District 4)
* March 28, Eastern 4-H Center in Columbia, Tyrrell County (District 1)

Competition is conducted on senior (high school) and junior (middle and elementary schools) divisional levels, with overall team and overall individual awards based on aggregate scores in all events.

Teams are organized within public and private schools, while home-schooled students and teams representing organizations such as 4-H or FFA also can compete, provided they meet eligibility requirements. Winning teams will advance to the state championship tournament, which will be held at the Millstone 4-H Center near Ellerbe on April 25.

“Competing in a tournament requires discipline and concentration, and we wish all participants the best of luck,” said Travis Casper, state hunter education coordinator. “We also need to thank them, along with their parents, coaches and schools for being involved in shooting sports and the support of conservation.”

While the Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournaments are for students 18 years old and younger, the Wildlife Commission offers free hunter education courses throughout the state for all ages. For more information on this or other conservation programs for youth, go to www.ncwildlife.org.