December 2023 - 14

WORKING TOGETHER
Young hunters in the Worland area donate game meat to those in need through the Young Hunters Care Program. (Photo courtesy of Matt Lentsch/WGFD)
Young hunters make a difference
A program in the Worland area provides young hunters experience
afield while giving back to the community
By Tracie Binkerd
A
program in the Worland area benefits
young hunters, landowners and
families in need. Founded by Worland
Game Warden Matt Lentsch
in 2007, the Young Hunters Care Program
enlists kids to harvest deer from properties
experiencing damage from these animals.
The program's beginning stemmed from
Lentsch's involvement with another youth
program - the National Wild Turkey Federation's
Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics
and Sportsmanship, or JAKES, program. In
that program, kids raised money by helping
the community with jobs such as raking leaves.
The funds were used to purchase frozen turkeys
14 | December 2023
for needy families over the holidays. While the
program was helpful, Lentsch couldn't kick
the feeling that he could do more to help the
community.
" As part of my job, I spend a lot of time
driving alone. That gives me time to think, "
Lentsch said. " While driving down one of
those dusty backroads, I got the idea of having
kids harvest doe deer, process the meat
themselves and donate the venison to families
in the community. "
Lentsch decided to put his idea into action.
He contacted JAKES participants to gauge
interest, and he quickly had 10 kids sign
up. At the time, doe/fawn deer licenses were
regularly available after the draw, so getting
the licenses was reasonably straightforward.
Lentsch arranged for the hunters to meet him
at a store where he purchased their licenses in
one transaction.
From there, Lentsch contacted a local landowner
and got permission for each hunter to
hunt on their property. Next, Lentsch spoke
with a local meat processor who graciously
allowed them to process deer at his facility
on a Sunday when the business was closed.
On Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, 10 young
hunters took to the field near Hyattville in
hopes of harvesting deer for needy families.
The hunt was a success as each participant harvested
a doe. It gave the kids experience in big
game hunting and field dressing. The day after
the hunt, the young hunters processed their
deer under the direction of an experienced

December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023

December 2023 - 1
December 2023 - 2
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