Pennsylvania Game News - March 2024 - 5

they want to do, but they're not really
sure. They're not fully committed yet.
" Some others come in and they
know this is exactly what they want
to do. It's something they wanted to
do for a very long time. And some tell
you these hunts changed their opinion
on hunting. They came in to learn
more, mostly just curious to see what
it was all about, without any intention
of becoming a lifelong hunter. And
then they're hooked. "
Nutrition
-
the
chance
to
put
healthy venison on the table - is a big
driver, too.
" That's No. 1 for a lot of people, the
food aspect, " said Elizabeth Kligge,
Pennsylvania Field to Fork Coordinator
for the National Deer Association.
" A lot of people are interested in trying
something new, doing something
adventurous. Spending time in nature,
that's another big one. But they
really want to provide food for
their families. "
That was part of the motivation
for 15-year-old Victor Bouwman,
of West Philadelphia.
None of his school friends
hunt. But with plans to be a botanist,
he not only enjoys eating
venison, but likes experiencing
the relationship between deer
and plants, too.
He harvested a deer at John
Heinz two years ago and returned
to Benjamin Rush this
past year - hunters who aren't
awarded a slot via the lottery
Shooting proficiency is among the skills
taught to participants in the mentored
hunts at John Heinz National Wildlife
Refuge and Benjamin Rush State Park.
Here, Ibrahim Salami, of Philadelphia,
gets in some crossbow practice.
MARCH 2024
MENTORING
The thought of hunting for the first
time can be intimidating. So, too, can
the thought of helping a newcomer.
With all the influencers on social
media, all the personalities on hunting
shows, all the " real " experts out there,
are you qualified to mentor someone
else?
Game Commission Hunter-Trapper
Education and Outreach Division Chief
Courtney LaCivita admits to having had
those worries herself.
" But whether you have 30 years of
experience or three years of experience
hunting, you can teach someone who's
brand new something, " she said. " You
know more than they do. You can help
somebody get started.
" And you'll realize you know more
than you think. "
A newcomer may not understand
something as basic as how to walk quietly
in the woods or why it's important,
for example. A mentor can explain it.
And often, they get more in return
than expected.
Elizabeth Kligge, Pennsylvania Field
to Fork Coordinator for the National
Deer Association, said mentoring develops
relationships. Earlier this year, for
example, a former mentee drew a goose
blind. He invited her, another mentee
and another mentor to go along. She'd
never hunted geese before, so that was
an experience born of helping others.
" It's nice to see all the connections
that are made at these events, all of the
new friendships, " Kligge said. " The opportunities
go both ways. "
The Learn Hunting website run by
the International Hunter Education Association
(www.learnhunting.org) gives
experienced hunters and newcomers
from across Pennsylvania the chance
to pair up. Registering carries no obligation;
potential partners decide what
they want to hunt, and how, and whether
even to pursue any connections.
LaCivita encourages hunters and
would-be hunters to give the site a look,
though. Just don't be surprised if that
leads to fun.
5
http://www.learnhunting.org
Pennsylvania Game News - March 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - March 2024
