Of all of the Youth Hunts that we have had over the last 12 years or so, I think that this year’s hunt was the best. We teamed up with the Colorado Mule Deer Association for our mule deer doe hunt on the north side of the Grand Mesa south of Collbran. The CMDA and the CDOW have been working with property owners in the area on habitat improvement projects. Through those contacts they were able to get permission to hold the youth hunt on two ranches that held a high population of mule deer does.
We had 6 youth hunters participate in the hunt. Three of these youths were part of the Redlands Community Church group that was at the 2009 High Country Shoot. Prior to the hunt the youths took a day-long Bowhunter Education course taught by Dave Bauer. Dave is always very supportive and he came to Grand Junction from Denver just to teach the class.
The hunt was a combination of spot and stalk hunting as well as ground blind hunting. The doe killed by Tyler Seacrest was taken from a ground blind. All of the youth hunters had close encounters with deer. In addition to the hunt the youths helped seed a portion of one of the ranches that had been cleared to enhance the deer habitat. Also, several of the adult mentors helped out on the other ranch by helping to erect some box blinds that the owner was planning to use during the rifle season.
There are lots of thank you’s to go around for all of the people who made this possible. The two ranchers, Tony Elkins and Robert Lapsly graciously shared their property. Michael Blanc and JT Romanski of the CDOW were very helpful assisting with the property owners and getting the deer tags. Denny Behrens, president of the CMDA (He is also a long time CTAS member) and Billy Johnson and his wife Deanna with the CMDA did most of the work with the property owners. Frank and Patty Adams did all of the cooking. One of the parents commented to me that they gained weight on the hunt. I wasn’t surprised at that as the table fare was excellent. The CTAS mentors and helpers included: Troy Behrens, Steve Shuey, Phil Belchar, Marv Clyncke, Teddy Evans, Jeff Seacrest and Jim Shanks. Also, we wouldn’t be able to put on this hunt if it wasn’t for the great support that we get from our membership. Thanks to all who donated or bought items at our various fund raising activities or who otherwise donated to the Youth Hunt effort. ——Jim Shanks. (good job Jim!)
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