This program is intended to provide adults with no prior hunting experience the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of upland bird hunting to begin hunting confidently and effectively on their own. This program will take place over two weekends in the fall, plus an additional Saturday morning to hunt game farm birds. The first weekend will include two full days of activities and instruction.
Weekend One - Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club
Day one (Saturday) will include group introductions, instruction on shooting fundamentals, safety, and actual shooting. There will also be a dog handling demonstration so participants can observe the thrill of hunting with a canine companion.
Day two (Sunday) will include more practice shooting, an introduction to gun cleaning, and good gear selection, followed by field dressing and processing game instruction. Participants will also have the opportunity to taste several wild gamebird preparations, opening their eyes to the culinary potential of wild game.
Saturday game farm shoot. This weekend's class includes a chance to shoot pheasants at Horse and Hunt on Saturday, September 21st, from 9- 1 pm. We pay for the birds. We provide the hunting loads. We put out three pheasants per student, and you will get to hunt over our dogs. Lunch is included at the end.
Weekend Two - Location to be determined:
The second weekend of the program will consist of a one-day hunt in Minnesota for wild pheasant, guided by program instructors. Additional instruction on habitat, cover types, game bird biology, and public access consideration will also be incorporated into the day. The date for this event will be either Saturday, October 19th or Saturday, October 26th, depending on our sister chapter in Marshall, MN who host this day.
Additional program goals include:
Providing a safe, comfortable atmosphere where adults with no prior hunting experience can learn to hunt
Provide an opportunity to meet other adult-onset hunters and experienced hunters who can be a resource beyond the program.
Develop an appreciation and understanding of the hunter's role in conservation and the importance of being a steward of the resource and habitat.
Requirements:
Participants must be 18 years of age or older
Must have completed the Minnesota Hunters Saftey Program before participation in this program - this program can be completed online: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/firearms_isa/online.html
Dates and Start times:
Saturday, Sept 7th: 9:00 am to 5 pm
Sunday, Sept 8th: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Saturday September 21st: 9 am - 1 pm.
Saturday, Oct 21st: Participants will convene at a location TBD at 8:00 am; hunting starts at 9:00 am. Participants are encouraged to arrange their own lodging on Saturday night and hunt on Sunday!