W. O. W.
Wild Over Whitetails
Program Outline
The purpose of the program is to promote a respect of the outdoors and the creatures that live there and to further hunter education through a variety of age appropriate activities.
1.The program will start annually on the first Saturday in May.
2.There will be 4 age groups.
3. Each chapter will need to have 1 W.O.W. director. The charter W.O.W. coordinator will provide all necessary information and materials to each director. The director’s responsibility is to make the information known to chapter members and the collection of any materials the chapter coordinator may request. In addition to the scheduled W.O.W. events, chapters may hold their own W.O.W. functions. The charter does have activities available if desired.
4. Ideally, each chapter would need to have 4 group leaders-1 for each age group, 2 minimum with a combination of the 2 younger groups and the 2 older groups.
5. W.O.W. activities will be open to all youths regardless of A.W.A. affiliation.
W.O.W. is designed with the family in mind. It is not a babysitting service. The A.W.A. has prided itself on family participation and this is just an extension of that tradition.
W.O.W. Schedule of Events 2007
Saturday April 28, 2007 Natural Tunnel State Park Kick-Off
We will be supporting the Copper Ridge Chapter’s Kids Fishing Day. We will have the official kickoff with a pizza party starting at 4pm. We will have a W.O.W. representative there at the beginning of the fishing so let us know if your child will be participating in W.O.W. so we can make note of their progress that day for their fishing badge and possible awards.
Saturday May 5, 2007 Phipps Bend Antler Shed Find
We will be visiting Phipps Bend to look for Atler Sheds. We will also use the hike to discuss wildlife and plantlife. Bring a bag lunch. (Meet and leave by 10am)
Saturday June 2, 2007 Bays Mountain Park
We will be doing a nature hike, a wild bird presentation, and a deer presentation. Bring a bag lunch. 10am-2pm.
Saturday July 22 & Sunday July 23 Chuck Swann
This will be the official camping/fishing trip of W.O.W. We are tying it in with the 4-wheel weekend to increase participation. We will provide activities for the kids all day and into the night. It will be a great time for everyone!
Saturday August 4, 2007 Cades Cove
We will be giving each child a disposable camera to take pictures of all the wildlife they are sure to see on this drive. Bring a bag lunch. (Meet and leave by 9am). We will also pay a visit to Bass Pro Shops after the Cades Cove visit.
Saturday September 8, 2007
We will be participating in the 2nd Annual Sportsman’s Classic. The kids will have a chance at the BB Gun Shoot and the archery shoot. The W.O.W. banquet and graduation ceremony will end the day.
W.O.W Awards
The children will receive a name badge upon registering for W.O.W. For each event they participate in, they will have an opportunity to earn a “badge”. At the end of the end of the program, awards will be given for different “badge” opportunities. Listed below are the “badges” to be earned.
Fishing badge Archery badge Wildlife badge Safety Badge
Camping badge Gun badge Plantlife badge Conservation Badge
For the Fawns (4-6) we will be having a coloring contest. The contest picture will be given in the sign up package and will be judged at the sportsman’s classic.
For the Spikes (7-9) we will be having an art contest. The picture is to be done after the August 4 trip and to be turned in by August 30. The theme of the picture is “My Favorite W.O.W. Memory”.
For the Fork Horns (10-12) and the 8 pointers (13-16) we will be having an essay contest. For the Fork Horns, the essay must be at least 200 words and the topic will be “My Favorite W.O.W. Memory”. For the 8 pointers, the essay must be at least 500 words and the choice of topics are: “How I Can Help Wildlife”, “What I Have Learned from W.O.W”, and “What the Whitetail Means to Me”. 8 pointes may also choose to write original story or poem based on a picture they took on the Cades Cove trip.
The coloring contest, art contest, and essay contest entries will be on display at the sportsman’s classic at the W.O.W. booth. The winners will be announced on Saturday Septemember 8.
Any Fork Horn or 8 pointer that has participated in spring hunts for 2007 will need to apprise the W.O.W. committee of their success so they can be recognized at the banquet. 2007 fall hunts and 2008 spring hunts will be recognized at the 2008 banquet.
We are hoping to turn out a calendar from pictures taken at W.O.W. events. The calendar will be sold to benefit future W.O.W. events.
The Appalachian Whitetail Association (AWA) in cooperation with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) will be beginning a new Hunter Mentor program starting in Upper East Tennessee in the fall of each year. This program is especially designed for eligible Young Sportsman who are ages 10 to 16 and who have successfully completed a Hunter Education Course.
Young Sportsman who are interested in furthering their skills as a hunter and who want to participate in an actual deer hunt may do so in this program. If you do not come from a hunting background and/or do not know or have someone that can take you hunting this program may give you this chance.
Young Sportsman will be teamed up with 2 experienced adult hunters who are members of the Appalachian Whitetail Association and they will take you hunting. If desired, one of these adults can be a non-hunting relative of yours ( Mom, Dad, Uncle, Etc.) . This hunt will be planned well in advance. This will give the Young Sportsman and the Hunter Mentors and their families time to meet and get to know one another. In addition some of the activities before the actual hunt will include but not limited to; Deciding on a place to hunt, gaining permission to hunt, scouting for Deer sign, time spent at the firing range to get familiar with the firearm, Bow, or muzzleloader that the young sportsman will use and to build marksmanship skills.
Those wishing to participate will do so by filling out an application and submitting it to the Appalachian Whitetail Association. Click here for application.
Those who need to complete a hunter education class can contact the Region IV TWRA office to find out when the next class is scheduled in your area. If you need more information on the Hunter Mentor Program and want to be placed on a contact list, call the TWRA at 1-800-332-0900 and ask for officer Allen Ricks.
The Appalachian Whitetail Association can be contacted by writing to:
Appalachian Whitetail Association
PO Box 7314
Kingsport, TN 37664
E-mail mentor@appalachianwhitetail.com
Mentoring Program Pays Big Dividends
Do The Right Thing!!!
By: Mark Porter CLM #116
Most people that know me know that I love the outdoors and Treasure the right to be able to hunt. For as long as I can remember I have had a positive influence when it came to the outdoor, From my dad and grandfather to my hunting mentor Wally Yates and now the AWA. Each has taught me different things about the sport of hunting from how to hunt to respecting the outdoors and the rule associated with it. I am even more thankful for these people after reading a resent article about a one day deer decoy operation.
The decoy operation was conducted because of complaints from landowners and sportsmen of poor hunting behavior. The buck decoy (A nice 8 pointer) was set up along a public road in the area of the complaints. During daylight hours about 80 vehicles drove by. Of the 80 about 40 slowed down to observe the deer decoy, 18 vehicles stopped and 24 people shot at the decoy. 20 of the shooters locals and the biggest point in all this is that the remaining 4 shooters were under the age of 16 and being instructed by a parent to shoot. ETHICS??
Comments From the Mentors and the Young Sportsman
· Mentor – “This is the fourth deer Heather has harvested in 5 seasons. This was the most exciting hunt for her. She has matured as a hunter so much from age 10 to 15 and I now consider her to be a good hunter. Our hunts together have enriched our lives as a Father and Daughter.”
· Mentor – “Casey was a very tentative hunter. Good concentration and shooting abilities.”
· Mentor – “This was Bradley’s third year of deer hunting. He was lucky enough to harvest a button buck last year. But so far this year he hasn’t gotten one yet.”
· Mentor – “Megan was very excited about hunting. She harvested a large doe early on a Saturday morning with her uncle Dan’s, Knight muzzleloader. I think she is HOOKED!”
· Mentor – “Very good hunt. Pretty cold. No shot at bucks – too far away. Good shot on doe at 55 yards – shoulder shot. Very clean kill. Dustin Johnson, age 11, 1st deer killed 1/11/03.”
· Mentor – “Getting to watch a young sportsman (my son) harvest his 1st buck has been the most exciting and fulfilling day of hunting I’ve every experienced.”
· Mentor – “Stephen learned, you have to be alert at all times, because you never know when the deer will show up. He enjoyed the hunting trip and being outdoors, except for the cold temperature in the morning.
· Young Sportsman – “Thanks TWRA for the hunting vest, tee-shirt, Etc.”
· Mentor – “Very good hunt. Seen deer. Missed shot on Doe”
· Mentor – “The hunt date was cold and we had a good time with John, but didn’t see anything. Better luck next time.”
· Mentor – “Used skills taught during hunter safety as well as from family & friends. Very rewarding hunts – great way to spend quality time with my teenager”
· Young Sportsman – “A moment like this is one to be cherished. Not only the harvest of the buck, but the quality time with my dad and doing something I enjoy.”
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Lyle Palmer & Kent Steadman Teach Hunter Safety Class
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