Introduce novice to outdoors, and maybe win a cash prize

TAKING A youngster or an adult novice hunting or target shooting, including archery and bowhunting, is a great way to pass along outdoors traditions. Thanks to the National Shooting Sports Foundation's "Step Outside Sweepstakes," it is also a chance to win one of five $1,000 gift certificates at Bass Pro Shops.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation is a premier organization looking out for shooting and hunting traditions, and this is the third year for the sweepstakes.

Enter by taking an online survey describing the experience. Success in harvesting game, actually busting clay pigeons or plinking a bull's-eye is immaterial. Helping others gain exposure to the outdoors is what it's all about.

Virginia is one of a number of states offering apprentice hunting licenses that allow youth or adult novices to join a licensed adult mentor on hunt.

The online survey must be completed by Jan. 1. Winners will be selected in a random drawing Jan. 19.

I took the survey. They do ask for contact information and some background information about your hunting and shooting experiences.

Surveys must be completed online at huntandshoot .org. You can also learn more at stepoutside.org.

YOUTH DEER HUNTING DAY

Speaking of mentoring youngsters, nearly 1,000 deer were checked via the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' telecheck and Internet reporting system on the first special Youth Deer Hunting Day, held Sept. 26.

The initial statistics showed 373 bucks were taken, 496 does and 82 button bucks.

Rifles and shotguns accounted for more than 700 of the deer.

HOTTEST TROPHY AREAS

If targeting the biggest antlers, horns and skulls is part of your hunting priorities, the Boone and Crockett Club has released a list of the states and Canadian provinces where the most record-book trophies have been registered over the last several years.

The club's book-and-trophy scoring system is certainly one of the most recognized, if not the most recognized, means for big game score-keeping. Boone and Crockett trophies include animals taken on free range and in fair-chase hunts. The animals have developed and matured just as nature permitted.

Alaska reigns supreme with nine categories of big game species and subspecies making the record books.

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Here are the top trophy-producing areas, by species, since 2000. Locations are listed in order of ranking.

Bear

Alaska brown: Alaska Black: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Alaska Grizzly: Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon Territory

Caribou

Barren ground: Alaska, Yukon Territory Central Canada barren ground: Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Newfoundland Mountain, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory Quebec-Labrador: Quebec, Newfoundland Woodland: Newfoundland

Cougar

Idaho, Alberta, Colorado, Montana

Deer

Columbia blacktail: California, Oregon, Washington Coues' whitetail: Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico Mule: Colorado, Saskatchewan, Wyoming Sitka blacktail: Alaska Whitetail: Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa

Elk

American: Utah, Arizona, Montana Roosevelt's: Oregon, California, British Columbia Tule: California

Moose

Alaska-Yukon: Alaska, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories Canada: British Columbia, Maine, Alberta Shiras': Wyoming, Idaho, Montana

Sheep

Bighorn: Montana, Alberta, Oregon Dall's: Alaska, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory Desert: Nevada, Arizona, Mexico Stone's: British Columbia, Yukon Territory

For more about the Boone and Crockett Club's trophy records database and scoring systems, see boone-crockett.org.

Date published: 11/5/2009

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