A Central Ontario outdoors club and its supporters have once again helped shape the next generation of conservationists through a free annual week-long tutoring program.
Five girls and five boys ages 12 to 14 took part in the Bancroft Fish & Game Club’s Youth Hunter Mentorship program from July 15 to 19.
Each participant spent two-and-a-half days in the classroom and two-and-a-half days on the club’s ranges, learning how to safely shoot, identify, and handle several different firearms while obtaining their Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and completing the Ontario Hunter Education Course.
Each youth shot 22lr, 9mm, 45mm, and 357 handguns, 22lr, 9 mm, and 243 rifles, as well as 410-, 12-, and 20-gauge shotguns with bird shot and slugs. They also shot at clay birds and wooden 3D animals and got to shoot the shotgun shells that they had reloaded by themselves with guidance from the instructors, officials stated.
After learning about scopes from Vortex Canada representatives, the kids shot at 25 and 50-metre targets with .223’s rifles. They also shot at a deer target at 200 metres, again using the 6.5 Creedmoor bullets that they had reloaded by themselves. All 10 youths hit the kill-shot area, club president Paul Goggan stated.
Club appreciates support
Participants included Rhiannon Elizabeth Smith, James Hutchinson, Gracie Hinze, Daniel McKenzie, Jerin Brown, Chase Donahue, Carleigh Mayhew, Emmett Wimperly, Quinn Armstrong, and Nicholas Stephens. Instructors included Bob Montroy, Carl Ziebarth, Amanda Lundrigan, Goggan, and Reg Wales and Mike Brake of Vortex.
The club thanked sponsors including OFAH Zone E, Switzer’s Auctions & Appraisals, Bancroft Canadian Tire, Vortex, Firearms Outlet, Richard Naranowicz, Reg Wales Precision Optics Academy, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), Bullseye North, Milcun Training Center, Stoeger Canada (1990) Limited, Rapala VMC Canada, Henry Outfitters, MDT, IBI Barrels, AIMPOINT, Hirsch Precision, FSESO, and Ducks Unlimited.
It also thanked members for their continued support of the program, including Sean Davis, Norm Murray, Paul Dempsey, James Wong, John Goguen, Rick Hillner, Michael Banwell, Cory Coburn, Tony Chuvalo, Rick Melnick, Kirk Heckley, Richard Staples, Rob Lynn, Thomas Armour, Charlie Archdekin, Catherine Ramsey, Barry Wannamaker, and Oliver Ness.
A great program to safely keep our traditions going into the future with the youth of today. To all the mentors keep up the great work and be sure to support all the sponsoring business that donate to allow this to happen.