RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 16, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has set the schedule for the annual Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournaments for 2010.

Nine district-level competitions will be held across the state in coming weeks, with hundreds of middle school and high school students taking part. Winning teams will advance to a state championship tournament in April.

The 2010 District Tournament schedule is:
District 1 (north coastal) – Saturday, March 27 at Eastern 4-H Center, Columbia
District 2 (mid-coastal) – Saturday, March 13 at Camp Boddie, near Chocowinity
District 3 (eastern Piedmont) – Saturday, March 27 at Old Hickory Gun Club, Rocky Mount
District 4 (south coastal) – Wednesday, March 3 at Coharie Shooting Range near Clinton
District 5 (central Piedmont) – Saturday, March 27 at Alamance Wildlife Club, Graham
District 6 (western Piedmont) – Saturday, March 20 at Camp Barnhardt near Badin
District 7 (north mountain) – Saturday, March 20 at Hunting Creek Preserve, Harmony
District 8 (central mountain) – Saturday, March 20 at Catawba Valley Wildlife Club, Vale
District 9 (western mountain) – Saturday, March 20 at Polk County Gun Club, Columbus

The Youth Hunter Education Skills Tournaments are an incentive component of North Carolina’s Hunter Education Program, provided as an opportunity to showcase outdoor skills and demonstrate safety, with events in rifle, shotgun and archery marksmanship, as well as an orienteering challenge and a wildlife knowledge test. Teams are organized within public and private schools, while home-schooled students and teams representing organizations such as 4-H or FFA also can compete, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Competition is conducted on senior (high school) and junior (middle school and elementary school) divisional levels, with overall team and overall individual awards based on aggregate scores in all events.

“Success depends on practice, dedication and teamwork, just as it does in other sports," said Travis Casper, the assistant hunter education programs coordinator for North Carolina.  "And I think participation in these type events fosters a sense of ethics and responsibility that carries beyond the competition.”

For more information on free hunter education courses, the Home From The Hunt safety campaign or youth programs offered by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, call (919) 707-0031 or click here.. 

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About N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Since 1947, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conservation and sustainability of the state's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportunities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. To learn more, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

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