The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced that more than 300 youth and adult hunters participated in Learn to Hunt programs in 2021. Last year, 19 organizations coordinated Learn to Hunt events statewide for bear, deer, waterfowl and pheasant hunting, with 117 volunteers providing instruction to more than 300 novice hunters.
The Learn to Hunt program provides opportunities for organizations to help novice hunters learn how to hunt a variety of species, including turkey and small game like pheasants and waterfowl, and big game like deer and bear.
"Learning to hunt and teaching someone to hunt are long-term processes that can feel daunting, both to the people who want to learn and to experienced hunters who have jobs, families and their own hunting seasons," said Hunting and Shooting Sports Program Specialist Emily Iehl. "Part of what makes hunting amazing and worth pursuing is the amount of time spent in nature. The Learn to Hunt program provides the extra time and flexibility needed for a quality learning experience."
The program is open to anyone new to hunting and helps address challenges such as equipment needs, effective hunting techniques and finding a place to hunt. With DNR approval, participants may hunt in a sanctioned Learn to Hunt event without a hunting license, provided they are within arm's reach of an experienced volunteer hunting instructor who has passed a background check.
The Learn to Hunt program is already off to a strong start in 2022. This spring, 40 organizations and more than 500 volunteers coordinated Learn to Hunt events for turkey hunting for nearly 500 participants.
Categories: Wisconsin, Rural Lifestyle