Field to Fork Program for New Adult hunters.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

On August 25th the branch in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension will have a table at the Rochester Public Market 9 am to 1 pm. This will be our kick off of the Field to Fork program that will be trying to identify individuals that are looking for nutritional food that they have taken, processed, and cooked themselves. Hunting can seem like an enormous undertaking when you have never been exposed to it before. That is where this program comes in. We are looking for 12 adults to sign up that have never hunted before. We will be holding a few evening classes to teach ethics, deer biology, the hunting tradition and more (September 11th and 25th from 7pm-9pm+/-), conducting range practice with choice of rifle or crossbow Date to be  determined base on participants schedules), providing the NYS Hunter Education course (Dedicated course for participants on September 22nd), taking the participants out on mentored deer hunts and if successful, teaching them how to process and cook this antibiotic and hormone free, free range nutritional protein. Everything needed to participate in this program will be provided and there will be venison dishes to enjoy at each of the gatherings during this program. Each participant will need to commit to the schedule and must attend all portions of the program to participate in the hunts. They will also need boots and appropriate clothing for warmth (Camo not required). Each participant will have to provide a $50 deposit that will be refunded if they complete all the components of he program. All firearms, Ammo license fees, QDMA 1 year membership etc. will be provided by the branch. Please pass this along to anyone that may be interested and stop out to see us on August 25 to sign up. There will be snack sticks and jerky there to sample.

[Moho81]

That sounds like a great program. I hope you/they get the 12 participants. 

[grampy]

What an awesome program!!  There should be more stuff like this today!  Huge thumbs up Bob!    

I'm sure this will be a success on so many levels.

[steve863]

Where will the hunts take place?  Did QDMA chapter members find some private lands for them to hunt?

[philoshop]

I applaud the effort. There are far too many people who think that a piece of meat in a styrofoam foam tray covered with Saran wrap in the grocery store is a "natural environment". People, especially the younger folks, are starting to get it. They should be encouraged in any way possible.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

2 hours ago, steve863 said:

Where will the hunts take place?  Did QDMA chapter members find some private lands for them to hunt?

We will be basically taking them so some of our members properties. So it will be private and controlled. Many of the members have restrictions they use on themselves but they all are waiving them for the participants.  What I would really love to have is a contact where I could get them out on nuisance permits so the success rate would be higher, less pressure and nicer weather. 

[ATbuckhunter]

What a great iniative! I wish I was close enough to help out 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Thanks Guys, We hope it will work out. They have done it a few other spots in the country but our Branch and Upper Hudson Branch are trying it as a pilot program in NY. I hope it takes. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I know it's kind of a waste to post this on here since everyone is a hunter. I was kind of hoping that if any of you knew someone that wanted to get into it but they were near us and not near enough for you to do it yourselves, you could point them our way. 

[philoshop]

It's never a "waste" to inform people. I can't help you in person, but I will definitely mention it to the folks that I see every day, and you never know who might step up.

[dbHunterNY]

if anyone knows of anyone interested in something like this out in eastern NY, let me know.  problem exists the clock is ticking for hunter safety course, despite we might have a way to deal with that.

[moog5050]

Never saw this.  Very cool  Did you get 12 to sign up Bob?

[dbHunterNY]

sounded like he had a lot of interest but not all fully committed. huge opportunity that'd be unfortunate to not take advantage of.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Well wanted to update on this. We had a very warm reception at the Market and only 4 days after that we have 8 participants that have signed up and paid their deposit. I believe it will fill up based on the people I have spoken with that gave up contact info at the market. BUT until I get the deposit I'll not count my chickens.  I am actually surprised by the make up of the class at this point. 

2 male young adults in early 20's

1 married couple in their early to mid 30's

3 solo women in early 30's to mid 40's

1 male in his mid 50's

That is half the class that is female. I expected a wide age range but not that heavily female. In my correspondence with them, they seem the most excited about this. 

[G-Man]

i would expect it to be more female than male. i see the same at archeological digs ive been on. most want to try but look for a helpful person to teach and help them along.. women are much more likely to ask for help then men

[philoshop]

My friend and his wife used to run the local "Women on Target" NRA firearms introduction course. They would call often asking if I could help out because they were swamped. Just an intro course to firearms, but the gals loved it and it was always a lot of fun.

[dbHunterNY]

Having a hard time getting into "farmer's" markets out here.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

55 minutes ago, dbHunterNY said:

Having a hard time getting into "farmer's" markets out here.

Wonder why that is?

[dbHunterNY]

22 hours ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

Wonder why that is?

We wanted to get into Glens Falls but couldn't.  Not sure the exact reasons if it was anti-hunting sentiment based or technicality. Still trying to get all the information. We've got a lot of irons in the fire right now.

Edited August 31, 2018 by dbHunterNY

[Culvercreek hunt club]

We had our first class last night for the participants.  Next up is NYS Hunter  Education class on the 22nd. They seemed very interested and asked some great questions. 

[Dinsdale]

Good turnout, hope you'll get some pics of successful hunters. Started one my own for the most part in mid 20's; something like this would have been terrific to have around. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

This weekend Saturday we had the NYS Hunter Education class for the participants. It was a full day and I was glad i sat through it too. There were a couple things on the laws that I honestly didn't know had changed. I guess this old dog still can learn a few new tricks. The participants did GREAT and were very engaged. Our branch Secretary/Treasurer doesn't hunt but she sat through the course as well. I am really lobbying to get her involved but she just wanted to have a good understanding of what we all are talking about during our meetings. We had a break at lunch and enjoyed some very fine venison dishes. We had venison chili and venison empanadas.  Well my diet went out the window that day becasue it was all delicious. After the test we headed out the the instructors property nearby and had some hands on gun safety and shooting. We also did some tree stand safety and demonstrations. 

Some of the participants had never squeezed a trigger before. Some had very limited experience. I can't tell you how well they all did but the pics with those smiles about say about all that needs to be said. 

 

 

 

 

[Five Seasons]

Nice work Culver. I was just talking to my wife about this last night. Our neighbors daughter is into helping her dad make jerky and their mother can't figure out why. I told her there's a good movement right now that is getting younger kids into the woods as they desire to learn more about and take control over what goes into their bodies. And that there's a certain amount of pride and enjoyment in the whole process. That and a big mess and a sore back after you're done cutting up a whole deer if you don't  get any help lol.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Last night was our last class. We covered a lot about shot placement and shot angles. Field dressing and some processing. We also discussed what they can expect on the hunt and how to prepare. We have a date picked out for the range day (October 7th) to shoot the rifles/shotguns they will be hunting with. I lost our "range" that I had access too so I am scrambling a bit to find access someplace. 

Today and tomorrow night I am meeting the participants and we are buying them their licenses and DMP's. They are pretty excited bunch. 

[dbHunterNY]

nice job Bob.