BOGART, Ga. – Last weekend will not soon be forgotten by a group of young hunters from across the country who spent four days at a premier hunting property in Georgia experiencing nature first-hand. The group of eight was selected from a pool of nominees submitted by QDMA’s vast Branch network to attend the QDMA Annual National Youth Hunt.
“Having four days each year to impress the significance of conservation and the continuation of our hunting heritage on the next generation of hunters and conservationists is a real pleasure for the entire QDMA staff,” said Randy Bowden, QDMA’s Director of Marketing and Corporate Relations. “What makes this event unique is the openhandedness of the property owners and staff, coupled with the generous contributions of sponsors, and the unbridled enthusiasm and eagerness to learn expressed by the kids,” said Bowden.
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit kicked off the weekend with a course in firearms that progressed to one-on-one instruction with the kids at the shooting range and culminated with a graduation test that included shots from various distances and angles. The Army stuck around for the entirety of the weekend to share their expertise with the kids, and their presence was a great asset to the event.
Before the kids hit the woods for some white-tailed deer hunting, several wildlife biologists and animal handlers took the stage to share the basics of conservation, Quality Deer Management, ethical hunting, and hunter safety. “It is important that the kids return to their schools and hometowns not only having logged time hunting, but also equipped with the necessary tools to understand the importance of spreading the message of conservation,” said Bowden.
Over the course of the long weekend, the group harvested several deer, but more importantly, they gained friendships, lasting memories, knowledge, and a love for the outdoors, which will be cherished for a lifetime. And thanks to a generous group of sponsors, including Remington, Hunters Specialties, Leupold, Winchester, and QDMA’s own Midlands Branch of Lexington, SC, the kids took home more than just their photos and memories, including an abundance of hunting products and gear that they will use for years to come as they continue to enjoy all that nature has to offer.
About QDMA
Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with more than 50,000 members in all 50 states and Canada, and several foreign countries. Membership in QDMA is open to anyone interested in better deer and better deer hunting, and committed to ethical hunting, sound deer management and the preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call (800) 209-3337 or visit www.QDMA.com
