Guide Training
HUNTING GUIDE TRAINING FOR YOUTH HUNTS
The following are training guidelines for volunteers working with Christian Outdoor Ministry as a GUIDE for all youth hunts. These guidelines should be followed as written. Any questions should be addressed with Dr. Danny Souder, Pat Johnson, or whoever is leading the hunt PRIOR to the event.
- At the beginning of each event, introduce yourself to the youth and their parent or guardian.
- Explain that you are a Christian and a follower of Jesus. Share your testimony if you are able or ask for help on how to share your Christian testimony. We provide an instruction sheet for your testimony and will make it available to you.
- You will need to determine if the youth has sighted in their rifle or shotgun ahead of time. Otherwise, they will need to come early before dinner to go with their guide to the shooting range on the ranch to determine if they are able to hit the target effectively. If the gun is too heavy we can provide a bog helper, a sandbag, or trigger stick to assist the youth in shooting their gun effectively. It will be your job as their guide to help them with their gun.
- The guide’s other duty is to find the blind or hunting location in the light of the afternoon, between 3- 6 pm to determine location and to make sure there are enough suitable chairs in the blind.
- The guide will need to determine how the hunting group will get to the blind and hunt location by truck or UTV and then accompany the youth and parent to the blind location.
- At the blind, it will be the guide’s responsibility to make sure the gun the youth will be using is not loaded with shells. The parent or grandparent carries the ammo. THE YOUTH WEAPON IS ALWAYS UNLOADED AND THE CHAMBER IS OPEN. The youth does not place the shells in the gun until youth, parent, and guide are all in the blind safely. Only then, does the youth load the gun with the guide’s assistance.
- It is the guide’s responsibility to make sure the youth and the parent follow COM guidelines and all safety procedures for a safe, fun, and effective hunt experience.
- Make sure youth and parent both understand that ONLY THE YOUTH is hunting, and they are the only shooter.
- The parent or grandparent is there to support, bond and encourage their youth in their youth hunt experience. The parent may be learning hunting information experience for the first time also, so the guide may be instructing both the youth and the parent.
- HERE ARE THE GUIDELINES TO SHARE WITH THE YOUTH AND PARENT AS PART OF THE HUNTING EXPERIENCE:
(1) WHAT TO SHOOT: the youth only shoots and harvests those animals approved by the rancher, COM leadership, and the lead guide. NO EXCEPTIONS.
(2) WHEN TO SHOOT: a) only shoot at an animal at daylight, STATE RULES. b) Only shoot when the guide gives the ok to shoot. c) Only shoot the animal when the animal is broadside and there are no other animals behind and the animal is clear from all other animals, so another animal is not shot or wounded. d) The youth must not hurry their shot, otherwise the animal might be wounded. e) The youth only shoots when the guide gives approval, when the guide believes it is the right time to shoot at the animal. f) Do not rush the shot. Take your time.
(3) WHERE TO SHOOT: (shot placement is very important) The guide will explain where to shoot the animal. Aim the cross hairs of the scope up the front legs of the animal one to three inches from the leg bend. This is the heart location of the animal.
(4) HOW TO SHOOT: place the crosshairs on the target spot, take a deep breath, and slowly exhale, let your breath out. Do not put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot and harvest the animal. Deer and turkeys are different. For turkeys, aim the shotgun or crossbow at the neck of the turkey.
(5) AFTER SHOOTING, do not rush out to find and see your animals. Wait at least 30 minutes before you go out to find and see your animal. Otherwise, the animal could run off if its wounded and then you might not find your animal. It would run off and die somewhere else where you might not find it. Wait until the guide says it is time to go and find your harvested animal.
(6) WHEN YOU LEAVE TO LOOK: the first thing you do on finding the animal is to make sure it is truly dead, by poking it in the eye or its end. Then, your first step is to tag your animal with the state issued tag by tape or bread string. MAKE SURE THAT THE DATE, THE COUNTY AND THE RANCH IS IDENTIFIED ON YOUR STATE ISSUED TAG.
(7) WHY SHOOT THE ANIMAL: to harvest the animal is true conservation and manages the animal population. In the Bible, the Lord teaches us to have dominion over the earth and his creatures. We should glorify the Lord and give thanks for his provision and blessings. The next step is to clean and process the animal and prepare it to eat and enjoy with family and friends.
(8) AFTER THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN HARVESTED: it should be picked up and taken to the cleaning station spot. The guide will assist and instruct the youth in the cleaning, securing, and preparing the animal to be prepared for cooking and grilling.
(9) POST CLEANING: we will provide instruction for taking care of the animal in your ice chest with ice and where and how to have it processed. If you choose to have a trophy of your animal, the guide will instruct you how to prepare your animal for the taxidermist and a possible taxidermist for your animal.
(10) SEASONING AND COOKING: we will instruct you how to prepare your animal with seasoning and grilling in order to enjoy the fruits of your hunt. Danny Souder or your Guide can also instruct you how to eat your animal. They are experienced specialists in eating wild game.
(11) HUNTING VS. SHOOTING: please explain to the youth and parent the experience is called hunting and not shooting. There is no guarantee the youth will harvest an animal or even see an animal. The more you go hunting, the more likely you are to see an animal and harvest one. There are other benefits to the experience of the weekend. First and foremost, you are in
God’s creation. Watch and enjoy the sunrise and the sunset and the ranch and the woods and other animals you will see. God’s creation and creatures are beautiful and awesome. Enjoy and bond with your parent, grandparent and youth. You are developing and building great memories and experiences in God’s outdoor creations. You are building and creating great life memories.
You are also making new friends from the youth hunt and meeting a great and gracious rancher allowing you to hunt on his ranch. Be courteous, respectful, and always thank the rancher for allowing you to hunt on his ranch.
(12) POSITIVE EXPERIENCE: the youth hunt should be a very positive experience. To continue the fun, check the COM schedule to find another hunt experience with possibly a different animal to harvest. In order to double your fun on your next experience you will want to tell your story to a friend or friends and invite them to go with you on your next hunt experience with COM. Go to: christianoutdoorministry.org to see the schedule of upcoming youth hunts.
(12) TELL YOUR STORY: you will want to tell and record your hunt story. Write a brief, 1-3 sentence story about your experience that you are willing to share with the rancher and also with COM leaders and on approved social media. Be sure and take pictures and videos of your experience and your harvested animal with COM and with others to share your hunt story. Be sure and pray and thank the Lord for your fruitful positive hunting experience and share your story with family and friends as well. God bless you double! He has and He did.
