Volume 17, Number 1, Fall 2006

St. Clair County Youth Learn to Harvest Forest Bounty

Lori Warchuck

The program, “From the Forest to the Table” took place March 18 at Four Squares Sportsman’s Club in St. Clair County.

More than 90 11- to 19-year-old youth and adults attended. The majority of the workshop took place in the woods by the Black River and featured the proper harvesting, field dressing and processing of whitetail deer and small game animals. Topics also included ethics and sportsmanship, proper shot placement, tracking and camp cooking, including Dutch oven deserts and how to “leave no trace.” Hands-on shooting stations were available for youth to improve skills or try something new. Stations included archery, muzzle-loading, shotgun (sporting clays), bb-gun and pellet.

Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division Conservation Officer Ben Lasher talked about basic rules for hunting safely and general conservation. “It was a very good program,” Lasher said. “Our hunter safety classes are rarely able to go into that much detail for the kids.”

4-H’er Marvin Redlawski said, “The workshop reminded me of just how much I didn’t know and of the need to continue to learn and sharpen my skills with outdoor activities. Every aspect of the event was very well planned.”

Every one received free trigger locks and a patch at the end of the day.

Sponsors for the event included St. Clair County 4-H Shooting Sports Developmental Committee, 4-Squares Sportsman’s Club, Whitetail Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Angler Rod & Sports, V.F. Sports, Kenockee Trading Post, Hock Shop, K-Mart, M& R Surplus, Water Fowl USA and the Michigan Hunting Dog Federation.