Community

Youth Hunter Educational Challenge to hold informational night

MILL HALL -- Many youths in our area are getting the opportunity to participate in a non-traditional sport.

Southern Clinton County YHEC (Youth Hunter Education Challenge) continues to have a strong presence in the program. The team currently has 21 participants and will be holding a registration/informational night at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10 at Miller's Gun Shop to recruit new athletes.

You might be asking "What is YHEC"?

YHEC provides a fun environment for kids 18 and under to improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills. Through its simulated hunting situations, live fire exercises, educational and responsibility events, YHEC helps build upon skills learned in basic hunter education courses and encourages safer, lifelong hunting habits. From rifle, bow, and muzzleloader shooting at life-sized targets, to wildlife identification, map and compass orienteering, and more, YHEC participants can get hands-on training in eight skill areas, giving them expertise in all methods of take and all types of game.

The benefits, both physically and mentally, include strength, endurance, awareness, control, responsibility, stress management, maturity, patience, working through feelings of failure and disappointment, and teamwork -- all of which build character, and hopefully, self-confidence. Training for, and shooting in, competitions also fosters a real understanding of the nature and practicality of our Second Amendment freedoms.

SCC YHEC continues to see success in its seasons. This past June, members of the YHEC team traveled to Scotia Range in State College, to participate in the PA State YHEC competition. The Junior team finished third overall taking home first place in shotgun, second place in archery, third place in wildlife ID and second place on the hunter ed exam.

The Junior team consisted of Malachi Gottshall, Dylan Baker, Collin Ankney, Thayne Jeffries and Glenn Hough. Individual Junior recognition went to Malachi Gottshall, who placed third in shotgun and second in wildlife ID and to Collin Ankney, who placed second in archery.

The Senior Blue team had a third place overall finish taking home second place in shotgun, second place in muzzleloader, third place in wildlife ID, and second place in the hunter ed exam. The Senior Blue team consisted of Emery Gunsallus, Wyatt Ripka, Denny Dolan, Lance Bowman and Tyler Weaver. Senior Orange team placed third in shotgun. That team consisted of Hunner Lindsey, Trenton Haagen, Joe Proctor, Gavin Kerstetter and Hunter Jeirles. Individual Senior recognition went to Emery Gunsallus, who had a first-place finish in rifle and wildlife ID and second place in hunter ed exam. Tyler Weaver earned third place in muzzleloader. Gunsallus also took the podium with a third place overall in the senior division.

Six members of the team also traveled to Chemung, N.Y., for the three-day Eastern Regional Championships. The senior team, consisting of Denny Dolan, Emery Gunsallus, Hunner Lindsey, Wyatt Ripka and Tyler Weaver took home a first place in shotgun, second place in archery, third place in rifle and hunter ed exam. They also finished with a third place overall team.

Denny Dolan took home first place in the fun event called "Mohawk Marathon" and won a new muzzleloader. First-year junior Glenn Hough participated as an individual in the junior division. Although Hough did not make the podium, he did have an impressive fourth place finish in the hunter safety portion of the competition.

Students are encouraged to take a look at the local shooting sports opportunities available in Clinton County. There is the YHEC, Central Mountain High School's new clay target team, or indoor rifle leagues such as the Bald Eagle Rifle League. There are also opportunities from spring through fall to shoot sporting clay courses at your local sportsmen's clubs.