Hooked on Hunting

A Mentored Hunt at the Forney Ranch

Text and photos by Eric Fowler

ntil January, Drew Hedstrom had never shot a deer. Hed never even hunted deer. Yet not quite a minute after he harvested his first deer, he knew he liked hunting enough that he passed on a chance to take his second. Drew and his father, Charley, had been sitting in a ground blind next to a half-circle of center-pivot irrigated corn tucked into a valley on the Forney Ranch in the western Sandhills since early afternoon. Two hours after their hunt began, deer began to filter out of a cedar grove on the hillside just above the pivot and into the corn, albeit out of range. Theres a family, said Drew. It was the first of many observations the 12-year-old shared with his dad, also a first-time hunter, who mostly sat back

and watched. Theres two of them looking right at us, Drew said a bit later. Oh, theres a nice buck. Later yet, Oh, I could shoot that one. Should I get my gun ready? Be patient and wait for one to get closer, Charlie told Drew. So he did. More deer walked out of the cedars and the hunters watched as two does raised up on their hind legs and batted at each other with their front. Oh, theyre fighting, said Drew. As father and son looked on, several of the herd leapt atop the string of round alfalfa bales laid end to end on the edge of the field. I could shoot one off the top of the hay bale, joked Drew. Eventually the deer began to work their way into the corn stubble and

Charley and Drew Hedstrom of Lincoln were all smiles after Drew harvested his first deer.

CoDee Johns of Gordon takes aim at a deer under the watch of Heath Packett, a Commission conservation officer and one of the hunt organizers.

closer to Drew. What do you think? he asked. With Dads If youre comfortable blessing and a doe turned broadside at about 150 yards, a single shot from Drews borrowed rifle, resting on donated shooting sticks, dropped her in her tracks. Instantly, three of the deer she was with began running directly toward the blind. When they stopped 30 yards or so in front of it, Drew had a decision to make. He had purchased two $6 youth deer permits, which during this late firearm season allowed him to harvest two mule-deer does and two whitetailed does. Harvesting his second mulie doe would end his hunt on this

part of the ranch. Shoot one, Charlie whispered to his son. I dont want to take my second one today. I want to go hunting tomorrow, pleaded Drew. But if you shoot your second one, we can go home tomorrow, his dad joked. No chance, Drew said. Just three hours into his first deer hunt, he knew he wanted more. But it wasnt just more hunting Drew was looking forward to it was spending time in deer camp with six friends who had also made the trek west from Lincoln for this special mentored youth hunt, and four who had

much shorter trips from Gordon and Chadron. Drew had been hearing stories about deer camp since he and his friends were first invited on the hunt, and he didnt want to miss any of it. This wasnt your average, every day deer camp, however. These young hunters, all recent Hunter Education graduates, were guests of Kent Forney, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission board member from Lincoln, and his family, who organized the hunt with Conservation Officer Heath Packett and Outdoor Education Specialist Aaron Hershberger. The Forney family had more deer

than they wanted too many mule deer on their ranch south of Gordon and too many whitetails on land they owned in the Pine Ridge north of Rushville. I thought, Well, what better way to [trim the herd] than to get some kids involved? said Forney. So they rolled out the red carpet for the boys and put a simple game plan in play. Make sure theyre full, warm and busy, and if they get to shoot a deer, thats wonderful, Forney said. And then if they learn to like it, youll have them hooked on hunting. These boys didnt have time to get bored, which Forney said is a big nono for this type of hunt. The Lincoln

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were out the window. Forney had been down that road before and didnt want any of the boys to miss out on one of the most important aspects of the hunt. Nor did the boys get cold. During the day, they stuffed their gloves and boots with chemical hand- and toe-warmers before they climbed in pop-up blinds deployed across the ranch for the hunt. A cash donation by Dan and Patty Kreitman of Wahoo bought the boys blaze orange stocking caps to keep their ears warm, as well as shooting sticks, gloves and other gear and a fanny pack to carry it in. The Kreitmans also threw in a laser rangefinder that Drew Hedstrom won in a drawing, and Cabelas donated hats for the hunts participants as well. At night, the crew made their beds in the Forney house, in campers brought in for the hunters, or in the Running Water Outfitters lodge, provided by Seth Tausan of Gordon, who also volunteered as a mentor for the hunters. Getting all of them herded into the latter wasnt always easy. I dont think I can go to sleep, James Young of Lincoln

said that first night, still excited after getting his first deer. That excitement was the rule for the weekend, both among the rookies and the four young hunters who had some experience. No one had to ask the boys if they got a deer when they got back to camp. The kids came running up to the house telling people they got a deer. It reminded me of when I got my first deer, said Tom Bowen of Lincoln, a longtime friend of Forneys who had recruited members of his sons youth basketball team, which he also coached, to go on the hunt when Forney pitched his idea. Most of the boys were joined by their fathers. Im really impressed, said Troy Drahota, who like his son, Taylor, hadnt hunted deer, but was there when Taylor harvested his first. Hes pretty stoked. To see the looks on their faces when they get their first deer ... it gets their adrenalin pumping. With plenty of mule deer coming to feed on Forneys pivots in the evening and not moving far from them during

the day, conditions were ripe for success, whether the boys were hunting from a ground blind or taking the spot-and-stalk approach. But many of the boys were still able to learn why its called hunting. CoDee Johns of Gordon learned that while mule deer arent as apt to run away at full speed as whitetails, you still need to move quickly or miss your chance. But you have to make a good shot, too. When CoDee didnt, he got an hour-long tracking lesson from Packett that ended in relief and a big smile. If I wouldve had more time, I think I couldve hit her in a better spot, he said after finding his trophy. I was kind of mad. It happens to everybody, Packett told him. CoDee made good on his second opportunity minutes after his afternoon hunt began, with a clean 150-yard shot on another mulie doe. That was fun, he said, grinning ear to ear. Matthew Henning also missed his first shot at a deer. I was almost certain I had her, the 11-year-old said after missing a mulie doe with his father,

Matt Henning and his father, Mark, of Lincoln, watch from a ground blind, hoping to spot mule deer moving from the hills to feed in a cornfield during an evening hunt.

Commissioner Kent Forney of Lincoln, his nephew, Austin, and mentor Wes Baxter of Lincoln cook a breakfast of scrambled eggs and deer sausage on an outdoor grill.

contingent split their trip into two legs, deadheading in a motel Thursday night before driving the rest of the way Friday and heading to the field soon after they arrived. The western contingent arrived in time for dinner Friday, the first evening of activities that included outdoor trivia and smores around a campfire. Everyone headed to the field Saturday morning. Back at camp for some midday down time, they were treated to rides behind a team of sled dogs ran by Forneys nephew, Austin. If any of the boys got hungry, it was only because they were too busy to stop and grab something off a table full of snacks the Forneys provided. The Forneys served venison for every meal burgers, breakfast sausage, chili and, finally, backstrap steaks from one of the harvested deer. Only for the latter did the boys know they were eating deer before they ate it. By then, any preconceived notions about deer meat

Aaron Hershberger, outdoor education specialist with the Commission and an organizer of the hunt, leads the hunters and mentors through a nature trivia quiz after dinner.

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By Aaron Hershberger
Mentoring does not have to be on a grand scale. Traditionally it has been done on a very small scale as older family members tutored younger ones in the art of the sport. Unfortunately, many families no longer have an experienced member to help the youngsters learn to hunt, and it is up to other hunters to help keep our countrys rich hunting traditions alive. If every hunter would take the time and effort to instill the thrill of the chase in just two new people, the positive impacts on conservation and the sport would be tremendous. Keep in mind that being a mentor is a bit different than being a guide because the goals arent necessarily the same. Mentoring involves equipping new hunters with the skills and knowledge needed to become successful as a hunter in their own right. True mentoring success goes beyond simply harvesting game and is based largely on the relationship developed between the experienced hunter and the newbie. You can start mentoring by simply inviting interested individuals you already know to take part in your hunting adventures. If youre interested in getting youth into the field, be sure to invite a parent along so they see what all the excitement is about, too. If you keep the hunts fun, safe and provide a good model of sportsmanship, there is a good chance you will have found yourself a new hunting partner. If you are looking to help at a larger event, contact a local wildlife conservation organization such as Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited or the National Wild Turkey Federation to find out about mentoring opportunities they provide in your area. For more ideas and tips on mentoring, check out www.HuntSafeNebraska.org and www.outdoornebraska.org/youth. Mentoring Tips Providing a fun, safe and comfortable experience for the new hunter is the key to success when mentoring. Here are some thoughts on how to make that happen: Food We all like to eat and snack while in the field. Bring extra. Quiet foods and wrappers are a bonus. Start Short Few new hunters can spend the entire day in a tree stand or walking through tall grass. Keep initial outings just long enough to keep their attention with some chance for success. The younger the hunter, the shorter the trip. Species and Techniques Choose game birds and animals that best suit the new hunter. Most new hunters have trouble sitting still and like to ask questions. Use methods such as blinds that allow them to do this, and build up to more challenging strategies and game. Involve Many of us consider the preparations we do prior to the hunt as work. Not so with many new hunters. Get them involved with the pre-hunt activities as it will get them more prepared and build excitement for the actual trip. Target Practice Burn some powder, fling some arrows and make it fun. This builds confidence and helps prepare newbies for the moment of truth. Monkey See Regardless of what you might think, you are being watched by your new hunter. Your actions will carry a lot of sway more so than what you say. The Harvest Remember to keep safety in mind during this exciting happening and celebrate the accomplishment, but dont put too much emphasis on this being the true measure of success. Be a Paparazzi Always take a camera and be sure to take a lot of pictures while in the field. Photos of the harvest are obviously a good thing, but avoid the tailgate syndrome. Dont feel bad about staging photos either. Weather Try your best to hunt conditions that favor an inexperienced hunter as well as the intended game. If a new hunter isnt comfortable, nobody is having fun. Gear Up Dont expect new hunters to have all the equipment or clothing that you have accumulated through the years. Helping fill the gaps can be a good thing that can make the experience positive, but the new hunter must have some buy-in too. Keep it Legal You know the rules and regulations, but your apprentice may not. Use this as an educational opportunity and help them find out what they need to know and, just as importantly, where to find this information. Letem Learn Avoid the urge to use your skills to cover for their inexperience all the time. Sometimes trial and error is the best teacher, as long as safety and ethics are not in jeopardy. Encourage and Instruct This is a learning process that needs to remain interesting and positive. Keep in mind that you didnt become as good as you are after just a couple of hunts. Hunter Education Be sure your protg gets enrolled into a Hunter Education Course, regardless of age. These courses help provide a solid foundation. Check for availability at www.HuntSafeNebraska.org.

Hunters were treated to s'mores around the campfire the first night of the hunt.

Mark, beside him during his first hunt ever. I could feel my heart pumping. Matthews heart got pumping again the next morning when his shot rang true. And on the second evening, hunting in the Pine Ridge, he found satisfaction without even pulling the trigger after watching a herd of deer feed just out of range of their blind. The fun part is that you get to see all of the natural beauty, Matthew said. Hes been here all day and hes still not cold, said Glen Forney, Kents

brother and a guide for the Pine Ridge contingent of hunters, nodding toward Matthew and noting the chilly January temperatures. I think hes got a little adrenalin going. By the time darkness set in Saturday, six of the hunters had harvested their first deer and all ten boys had taken at least one. The hunters were happy, and so were the mentors. Its a great experience for kids, said Tausan. I love it, Packett said. I could do it

every day. I think we had a really good hunt, said Glen Forney. These kids are really excited and had a good time. So did Kent Forney, who received plenty of help during the hunt from his brothers Dean and Bruce, sister Joann, and several of their spouses, whether it was guiding hunters, chauffeuring them to and from blinds, or cooking and doing the dishes. Our family doesnt get together a lot, so we always look for an excuse to

do so, he said. Weve got kids, but they arent this age. Our kids like to go out [and hunt] by themselves now. The boys were tired that second night, and after filling up on deer steak and having a bit more fun, it wasnt nearly as difficult to get them off to bed. After all, a long day of hunting deserves to be followed by a good nights sleep. And dreams of the next hunt. I know all of the boys want to go again, said Bowen. Which is the ultimate goal.

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