Two local kids in international
Youth Hunting test

Fourteen-year-old Ashley Metzger went on her first hunting trip when she was 11 years old. But, she didn't bag her first deer until last November.

The Parkway South High School freshman said getting her first deer "was very exciting."

Last month, Ashley represented Missouri in the international Youth Hunter Education Challenge competition. She was in the junior division at Raton, New Mexico.

Sixteen-year-old James Vest of Crestwood was the local senior division representative.

Both kids are members of the Show-Me Shooters. That group is headquartered at the Missouri Conservation Department's Jay Hentges Range in southwest St. Louis County.

The Youth Hunter Challenge combines competitions in weapon skills and hunter safety.

The kids compete in four weapons categories: shotgun, muzzle-loaders, .22-caliber rifles and archery.

There are also four "academic" competitions: hunter safety, wildlife identification, hunter responsibility and orienteering. Orienteering tests kids' ability to find their way in the outdoors with only a compass and some basic charts.

The local Youth Hunter Education Challenge is open to kids from 11 to 19 years of age. You can find out how you can join by checking the Missouri YHEC website at: www.moyhec.com.

Or you can contact Jan G. Morris of Imperial, Mo. His number is (636) 464-6214 or e-mail him at MoYhec@aol.com. Registration for the 2003-2004 season is on Oct. 16.

Ashley said she learned about the need for hunter safety on her very first hunt. Many of her hunting trips are on a southern Missouri farm owned by a friend of her grandfather.

"One of the conditions for hunting on the land was that we always had radio contact when we were in the field. That's so we could communicate if anything happened," she said.

Ashley said interest in hunting runs in her family. Her first deer hunting trip was with her grandfather. In addition, her father and older sister also hunt. "And my two younger sisters are anxious to go too," she said.

James Vest was on a return trip to the international competition. This is his third year as a member of the Show-Me Shooters.

Both kids used their own weapons in the competition, including the old-style muzzle-loaders. However, you can be a Show-Me Shooter member without owning all the weapons. The club has weapons that you can borrow for practices and competitions.

James said he has two shotguns, a muzzle-loader, a .22 rifle and two archery bows.

James said his first hunting trip was on a "guided hunt" for ducks two years ago. He said he bagged one duck during that hunt.

Since then he's been hunting for deer, turkey, squirrel and rabbit.

Ashley said she went on her first turkey hunt last spring. But, she said she didn't get any birds because "mean people with loud dogs were riding ATVs nearby."

To be successful in most hunting efforts, you have to keep quiet so as not to scare off the wildlife.

Both of the kids take part in other activities.

James plans to play lacrosse this school year and he's on the school chess team. He also likes to do free-style drawing. Most of his artwork is in pencil and shows outdoor scenes.

Ashley has been refereeing soccer games involving kids from kindergarten to second grade. She said, "It's so much fun to watch these little kids play."

She said, "When they kick the ball, it's a big accomplishment. After the kick, they tend to stand around and watch the ball. The coaches keep telling them to chase the ball."

Ashley said she's planning to try out for color guard this fall. The girls perform with the school's marching band.

Asked what she likes best about the outdoors, Ashley said, "The pretty colors."

James said, "You can always find something new to do in the outdoors."

(YSL.com has featured the Youth Hunter Education Challenge previously. To look at an earlier story from August, 2001, click here.)