Wyoming
Big Horn Chapter Spotlight, Sheridan, Wyo.
July/August 2009
By Katie Luthy
First Annual Youth Gun Safety M.U.L.E.Y. Day
(Mindful, Understanding, Legal and Ethical Youth)
The MDF’s newly formed Big Horn Chapter in Sheridan, Wyo., may not be large, but we certainly pack a punch. I’m honored to work side-by-side with such a dedicated, fun-loving, and generous group of individuals. It is so very moving to watch a small committee such as ours come together and accomplish great things for a cause and a foundation in which we all strongly believe. When I came into this organization a little less than a year ago I had no idea what an amazing ride it was going to be. Over the past year, I’ve watched the Big Horn Chapter committee transform from a group of strangers gathering together to swap hunting stories and brag about the biggest buck they’d ever seen, into a group of friends who strive to set goals, plan conservation projects, and organize events. And yes, we still swap hunting stories and brag about the monster buck that got away. We just classify it as “New Business” on the meeting agenda.
The two projects we’ve already accomplished for the year were the Winter Fundraising Raffle and the first Annual Youth Gun Safety M.U.L.E.Y. (Mindful, Understanding, Legal and Ethical Youth) Day. The raffle was a complete success as we were able to raise over $2,000 for the MDF, and all of the raffle items were either donated or underwritten! The prizes included a .270 Weatherby Vanguard and MDF soft-sided gun case, a $250 Gift Certificate to Shipton’s Big R, and a one-year membership to the Sheridan County Sportsman’s Association and MDF reversible gun vest. Thank you very much to our generous donors and all those who purchased raffle tickets!
More importantly, though, was the success of the M.U.L.E.Y. Day. Early on, our committee decided that in addition to upholding the MDF mission statement, we would strive to encourage and educate youth about their role in wildlife, habitat, and conservation. The drastic decline in youth hunters is a serious threat to our cause and we all know how vital hunters are to the future of conservation. This was precisely why we wanted to get young ladies and gents excited about being a sportsman!
We teamed up with the Sheridan County Sportsman’s Association and Gun Club to put together one heck of a youth event! Our M.U.L.E.Y. Day was comprised of five stations: Stations 1 and 3 were both .22 rifle stations and Station leaders, Kelsy Gonzales, Nolan Buckley, and Casey Dinkel, (with the help of the range officers), taught the children how to properly and safely operate .22 rifles. The kids practiced their marksmanship by shooting at paper and metal swinging targets and we were all very impressed with the skill of these up and coming sharpshooters!
Station 2 was the Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Station. Warren Mischke, with the Wyoming Game and Fish, was kind enough to volunteer his time to head up this station. He kept the children and their parents animated with a variety of activities. The highlight for many children was having the opportunity to spray Warren, wrapped in a bear hide and assuming the role of a charging grizzly, with pepper spray. Okay, so it wasn’t real pepper spray, but that’s dedication none the less. He’s also now a member of the MDF! If you ever bump into Warren Mischke shake his hand and buy him lunch.
Avid outdoorsman and sportsman Steve Lipetzky ran Station 4, the Wildlife Identification and Tracking Station. Armed with shed antlers and scat, Steve did an excellent job teaching the children to identify and track different animals. By the end of the day there wasn’t a single kid who couldn’t name at least three differences between a whitetail and a muley. Believe me, I quizzed them all.
Station 5 was the lunch station and committee member, Ron Cloutier, was the grill master of the day. Station 5 wrapped up a perfect and fun day for all. Looking back, it’s easy to see that we were very fortunate to have local companies donate all the concessions for the youth event. All the children and their parents were thrilled with the first Annual Youth Gun Safety M.U.L.E.Y. Day and the Mule Deer Foundation. They are all eagerly awaiting next year’s M.U.L.E.Y. Day, and so are we!
This summer we’ll be doing volunteer work to improve mule deer habitat, and we also have plans for another secondary fundraising event this winter. However, the next big project on our to-do list is our second Annual Banquet and Fundraiser scheduled for August 29th, 2009. Our goal this year is to double our attendance and reach at least 60% net. That’s quite a goal, but the Big Horn Chapter is tenacious. Once we get rolling it’s hard to slow us down. I can’t wait to let everyone know how we did! We already have some amazing donated auction items, fun games, and fresh ideas, but we’d love to hear from other chapters as well. If you have a great idea, game or raffle give us a holler…we’d appreciate it. Also, if your chapter is in need of a hand please contact us. You can call Katie Luthy at 307-752-8347. We’re always ready and willing to help out…that’s the beauty of the Mule Deer Foundation.
The Big Horn Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation would like to thank all of our donors, volunteers, the Sheridan community, Brandon Mason (our RD), and other MDF Chapters for their support! I’d personally like to thank the Big Horn Chapter committee for all their hard work and dedication. You are the greatest group of gentlemen I’ve had the pleasure to work with. We would also like to recognize and thank the soldiers, troops, and veterans that have, or are currently serving, our great country and protecting our freedom. God Bless!