LOGAN – The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting the 39th annual Youth Hunter Education Challenge June 14-15 at the Cache Valley Public Shooting Range in Logan. The range is located at 2851 W. 200 N. just west of Logan City.
DWR wants to invite anyone who has completed Hunter Education to compete in the event.
The Youth Hunter Education Challenge began in 1985, and Utah has been involved in the unique program since the National Rifle Association started the event. The contest allows all individuals who have taken and graduated from DWR’s Hunter Education course to develop and improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills. Currently, 16 other states in the U.S. participate in the program.
Despite the name, the competition is open to adults, and youth 6 to 18 years old.
“The Youth Hunter Education Challenge is a great way for hunters — both youth and adults — to compete in the skills they learned in Hunter Education,” DWR Hunter Education Program Manager RaLynne Takeda said. “We added an adult category a few years ago because it never hurts anyone to improve their hunting skills. This provides a fun atmosphere for that, and is a great activity for families to enjoy and participate in together.”
Registration is $35 per participant, and participants must register on Eventbrite by May 30 to compete.
There are a variety of events in the competition, including:
- Wildlife identification
- .22 long rifle
- Shotgun
- Archery
- Safety trail (which includes a variety of different scenarios to test ethics and safety when hunting)
- Written exam (which will test participates on hunting rules and regulations and information from Hunter Education)
Prizes will be awarded to the top five highest-scoring individuals in the junior, senior and adult divisions.
“There are a lot of great things about this program, but one of my favorite parts is the great families I have met throughout the years that have become lifelong friends,” Takeda said. “The most rewarding thing is to see the excitement of the youth when they master new skills as part of the competition.”
Learn more details about the event and register on Eventbrite.