Youth Hunter Satefy Has Excellent Turnout

A Nebraska Firearm Hunter Safety Class was held Sept. 23 at the Bloomfield fire and ambulance hall and along with target shooting at the airport.

Turnout for this year's class was twenty-two students which was considerably higher than the previous year.  Having close to 50 years combined experience teaching this class, volunteer instructors Joe Kauth, Steve Barney and Ken Gill are providing yet another year of successful training.  The participants must spend ten hours of class time and pass a written exam in order to become certified.  The certification is a lifetime certification and is good in any state in the United States.  The class is sponsored by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission at no charge.
 
The students spent Saturday morning in the classroom where they learned about game laws, safe gun handling, hunter ethics, game processing and more.  At noon they were treated to pizza and pop provided by the Bazile Creek Pheasants Forever Chapter.  At 2:00 they were taken out to the airport for target shooting with a 22 rifle and a 20 gauge shotgun.  Assisting at the airport were Kevin Millikan, Neil Guenther, Rose Keith, Janet Gill and Glenda Byerly.
 
While at the airport, Nebraska Conservation Officer Jeff Jones came and visited with the students about his job and some of the laws.  He also assisted with the target shooting. 
 
Some of the students will be chosen to participate in a Youth Mentor Hunt on October 14 which will be sponsored by the Bazile Creek Pheasants Forever Chapter.
 
Students must be a minimum of 11 years old in order to take the class and is held once a year in Bloomfield.  You may check the Nebraska Game and Parks website for other firearm and bow hunter safety classes.