2018 Youth Deer Hunt – Seattle Puget Sound SCI

[Bob33]

Hi Hunt WA members and guests

Thank you to everyone who helped promote our youth hunt the last few years on this forum. We are planning to send another ten youth hunters on a trip to harvest a whitetail doe this fall. The announcement letter is pasted below. Feel free to share with anyone that you think might be interested.

Thank you.
Bob (Bob33)

2018 Youth Hunt sponsored by SPSC of SCI

Over the past three years the Seattle Puget Sound Chapter of Safari Club International has sponsored youth deer hunts in Eastern Washington, where young hunters were given the opportunity to create memories and experience the thrill of hunting. After the great success these past three years, we will once again be sending up to ten fortunate youth hunters on a deer hunting trip to harvest a whitetail doe in Eastern Washington. The hunts will occur during the 2018 Modern Firearm general deer season the weekend of October 13 and 14.

The youths, accompanied by their parent/guardian, will be hunting on a private 500 acre ranch in Unit 108 approximately 20 minutes from the town of Colville, WA. There are multiple blinds overlooking alfalfa fields and timbered areas. Hunters will be dropped off and picked up from the blinds. Although we cannot guarantee harvest, over the past three years these hunts have had a 100% success rate.

The hunts will be for one whitetail doe, and all of the field dressing and skinning will be handled by the host. Lodging and food will not be included but hotels and services are available about 20 minutes away in Colville, WA.

All interested youth hunters are encouraged to apply (Washington defines a youth as anyone under 16 years of age at time of license purchase.) To participate youth hunters must have the following:

- Washington State Hunter Education Card,
- 2018 Modern Firearm deer tag,
- Firearm legal for deer hunting, and
- Parent or guardian willing to accompany the youth on the hunt.

To apply, youth hunters need to email a brief (500 words or less) essay describing themselves and why they would like to take part in this great opportunity.

Applications may submitted through June 30, 2018. Please be sure to include contact information of the parent or guardian in the application.

Once all applications are received, they will be reviewed by a group of SPSC Members and Board Members for selection. The youth hunters who are chosen should expect to be notified by the end of July.

Please email applications to the following address:
bobcrom@gmail.com

[Bob33]

Two week bump. Six weeks to go.

[Stein]

It's a great hunt, the guide and landowner are awesome guys and work their tail off to get the kids a quality shot.  If you want a high quality, high probability hunt for one of the best tasting deer you will ever get you should seriously consider applying.

[Bob33]

Two week bump. One month to go and there is still room for more applicants.

Spread the word - this is a great opportunity for a youth to harvest a deer.

[Bob33]

Weekly bump. Three weeks to go and there is still room for more applicants.

[ljsommer]

I just want to say this is really incredible and as my 9 year old son has shown interest in hunting, I will try to get him into one of these once he finishes his hunter safety training.

[mp.hunter]

This hunt is great, if anyone has a first time hunter you need to get them to sign up.


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[knight]

Thank you for the opportunity what a great program!  My daughter has submitted her application.
Thanks
Andrew Knight

[Bob33]

Last week bump.

If you know a youth for applied for a deer permit and didn't draw, here's a chance for the youth to apply for a great hunt opportunity.

It's not too late but time is running out; applications are accepted through June 30.

[Rainier10]

Now that the draws are over if your kid didn't draw the area you were hoping for this is a great opportunity with time running out to apply.  I had a couple kids go through our last hunter class that I let know about this opportunity.  It really is a great chance to get your kid in a target rich environment under pretty controlled circumstances.

Be sure to get the word out to any kids you know of.

Thanks to the South Puget Sound Chapter of SCI for providing this opportunity again.

[Bob33]

One last bump.

[Rainier10]

Do you have any of the links from the past hunts?  I thought that a couple of the stories were shared on here but I can't find them. @Bob33

@C-Money @Stein it looked like from last years post that maybe you guys had kids involved.  Did you guys post stories about the hunt?

Just not sure people realize what a great opportunity this is.

[Stein]

I didn't but I can give a quick rundown.  You are assigned either Saturday or Sunday, we picked the one that worked best.  We stayed at Benny's which is about a 10 minute drive to the farm where you meet the farmer and guide.  They take you to your assigned blind and keep in touch over text or cell.

My daughter missed a shot early in the morning and then we moved blinds a couple times.  The guide and farmer jump all around moving everyone and keep on top of where the deer are.  They put us right on a fat doe for an under 50 yard shot late in the afternoon.  I helped them load it up, back to the garage where they did all the dressing, all I can say is they know their way around knives.  All I did was quarter it so it would fit in our cooler, most guys took theirs home whole.

In addition to the hunting, we had several breaks where we talked with the farmer about his property, deer and how much damage they cause.  Couldn't be a nicer guy. 

The guide was also 100% top notch, I've never seen someone work harder.  He knows that kids likely need a couple of chances and works to get them set up and steady without being frustrated when things don't go as planned, just on to the next opportunity.  On the day I was there, they had 100% success including several real young kids.  Everyone I talked with had a great time.  After the hunt, back to Benny's for a hot tub and victory dinner in town.

If we didn't draw a youth deer tag this year, we would be applying again.  If you want to get your kid on a doe in a very safe and comfortable situation, you can do no better.  Hats off to all involved, this is the best in what we can be doing to recruit the next generation of hunters.

[Bob33]

Here's a photo of one of last year's happy hunters and her father.

[ctwiggs1]

Man I love everything about this hunt.  Guys, seriously:  THANK YOU for putting so much effort into getting kids out there.