The board of Michigan Youth Hunting Education Challenge (MYHEC) has announced that the first annual U.P. Regional event will be held on Saturday, June 28 at the Chippewa County Shooting Association (6710 S. Ridge Road) in Sault Ste. Marie.
MYHEC is recognized as the most comprehensive youth hunting program anywhere in North America. It is an outdoor skills and safety training program for young hunters.
Because events are conducted in simulated hunting conditions, MYHEC provides the best test of a youth hunter’s skills short of an actual situation afield. This training ensures the future of the American hunting tradition is a safe, viable recreational activity that the entire family can enjoy.
In order for youth to participate in this event, they must have a current hunter education card; the maximum age is 18.
The regional U.P. MYHEC event will be one day, offering six events. There will be .22 light rifle, muzzleloading, archery, shotgun, hunter safety trail, and orienteering. Something unique to the new U.P. Regional event is that when youth register, they can choose to register to participate only or to register to compete for places (first, second and third). Because this event is being promoted in a new area, the MYHEC board doesn’t want the fear of competition prohibiting youth from participating. If youth have never participated in any of these events, but are interested, they are strongly encouraged to attend. Youth can bring their own equipment if they have it; if not, each event will have equipment available to use.
At the state MYHEC challenge — August 23-24 at the Capital Area Sportsman Club in Lansing — youth will participate in eight different areas. There are four shooting events (.22 light rifle, muzzleloading, archery, and shotgun) as well as four responsibility events (hunter safety trail, orienteering, wild life ID, and hunter responsibility exam). Youth are able to compete both individually and as teams, and are recognized for both. The prizes for the main MYHEC challenge, while vary yearly, have included pheasant hunts, muzzleloaders, trail cams, Jay’s shopping cards, and cash that is to be spent on hunting gear. There is also a $1,000 scholarship available for participating seniors to compete for. Scholarship essays must be postmarked by midnight July 1 each year.
MYHEC, a youth program of the National Rifle Association, is a great experience for Michigan youth. By preparing our future generation to be safe and ethical hunters, we are also teaching them to respect the outdoors, wildlife, yourself and others all the while passing on Michigan’s hunting heritage.
Jimmy Gretzinger of Michigan Out of Doors, featured MYHEC on his September 5 show, and said MYHEC “has to be one of the best kept secrets in the outdoors,” and “this event and the stuff happening here today was, to be honest, one of the most important youth events I have been at.”
For flyers and registration forms on both MYHEC events, go to www.MYHEC.org. “Like” Michigan Youth Hunting Education Challenge-MYHEC on Facebook. For more information regarding the local event, contact Ken Greenfield at (906) 748-1861 or e-mail kenandmel@centurylink.net, or Melanie Greenfield at (906) 440-0483, or at kenandmel@sault.com. For more information on the Lansing event, contact Debbie Pinkel at (517) 485-6391 or at StateMYHEC07@aol.com.
For youth that need to attend a Hunters’ Safety Class, there is one tentatively being planned in May (date to be announced) in Sault Ste. Marie. Call Melanie Greenfield at the number above if you would like more information.
Comments are closed.