December 2023 - 15

meat cutter. For many, it was their first time
processing a big game animal.
The program has encountered its share of
challenges over the years. The area's chapter
of the National Wild Turkey Federation disbanded
more than 10 years ago along with
JAKES, which the program operated under.
Young Hunters Care shifted in 2012 and began
operating under the Paintrock Hunter Mentor
Program.
In addition, a change to the license draw
system significantly reduced the number of
leftover tags available after the draw. To ensure
participants had the best chance at a license,
they applied for doe/fawn licenses instead of
purchasing leftover licenses. This required
planning further ahead, which can present
obstacles. Kids have busy schedules, so sometimes
they could not hunt even if they were
successful in the draw.
Chronic wasting disease also presented a
challenge. As CWD prevalence increased in
the Big Horn Basin, deer needed to be tested
for the disease before they were donated to
families.
" Waiting for test results meant the deer had
to be hung in a cooler for at least a week prior
to being processed, " Lentsch said. " This took
up valuable cooler space. It was tough to ask
the processor to sacrifice cooler space for that
long when he was already graciously providing
use of his cutting room. "
Another challenge was venison processed
by the young hunters could not be donated
through food banks as they can only accept
meat processed at federally inspected processing
plants. Through Young Hunters Care, venison
from one deer was given to one family
rather than given to a food bank to disburse
to more people.
A new initiative in 2020 helped to ease
some of those challenges. Wyoming First Lady
Jenny Gordon launched several anti-hunger
initiatives - including Food from the Field
- in which hunters can donate all or part
of their harvested big game animal. Through
Food from the Field, the meat is processed at
approved processing plants. Local food banks
in turn can donate the venison through their
existing food distribution networks.
The Food from the Field program was a
natural fit with Young Hunters Care, so the
program shifted gears. Starting in 2021, deer
harvested by the young hunters were donated
to the Food from the Field program. Although
this meant the hunters didn't process the meat
themselves, this partnership resolved most of
Kids who participate in the Young Hunters Care Program get experience in the field, but also in other aspects of
hunting. (Photo courtesy of Matt Lentsch/WGFD)
the hiccups the program experienced previously.
Most notably, it allowed the program
to expand significantly. No longer was the
program limited to the number of kids who
could fit around a meat-cutting table. In 2022,
16 youth hunters and five adults participated.
The cohort harvested 26 deer, three of which
could not be donated due to CWD. The efforts
resulted in 650 pounds of processed venison
donated to local food banks that year.
Working through Food from the Field also
helped with the issue of limited cooler space.
The program provides refrigerated trailers to
processors, allowing carcasses to hang during
the CWD testing process.
In addition to working with Food from the
Field, Young Hunters Care has coordinated
with the Wyoming Game Wardens Association.
The association has funded the program's
hunting licenses and meat wrapping supplies
since 2008.
In addition, the program has helped landowners
reduce crop damage from deer. Two
landowners south of Worland experienced
significant deer damage to their corn. By allowing
access for Young Hunters Care to hunt on
their properties, they reduced the number of
deer causing damage. The young hunters target
doe white-tailed deer on those two properties,
which resulted in a win-win-win situation for
everyone involved.
A four-month-long white-tailed deer doe/
fawn season also gives youth time to hunt with
their busy schedules. They are not tied to a
single hunt day. The high number of doe/fawn
white-tailed deer licenses also means licenses
are often available even after the second draw,
allowing participants to be added later in the
process.
The program has made a significant difference
over the years. Since its inception in 2007,
Young Hunters Care has donated more than
2.5 tons of processed venison to families and
food banks in the Worland area.
- Tracie Binkerd is the editor of Wyoming Wildlife
magazine.
Wyoming Wildlife | 15

December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023