6 A junior camp at Mormon Lake

[Huntn coues]

I was told about an incident that happened at the youth camp that really put a knot in my stomach.

 

Now I do not want to throw out any names just yet but I was told this camp was held by a rather large Non profit org. in which I am a member.

 

This is what happened- A very good friend of mine was helping out on a 5bs cow hunt and the hunter was a 14yr old boy

on his first hunt and this cow was his first harvest. After they took care of the animal they pulled into this youth camp

for the shindig that they were having and after arriving one of the volunteers walks over and looks at this boy's tag

and tells the boy "This is not a junior tag" and pretty much shunned him off. At no time did anybody from that

camp offer the boy a hot dog , hamburger , soda or even to take part in the festivities.

 

So my question is, was this camp just for the 6A juniors or what. And even if it was, this is no way to treat a youth.

 

Wow- all we talk about is introducing new hunters to get involved and this is what he gets???

 

And by the way- My friend that I am talking about is involved in numerous youth camps and needless to say this

really CHAPPED is a$$.

 

Oh yeah they ended up driving across the road and grilled their own Dogs and hamburgers for that young hunter.

 

SHAME SHAME

 

PS. Congratulations to all the youths this year that got out to hunt with friends and family.

 

Troy

[COOSEFAN]

That sucks Troy! I grew up helping out at all those Unit Watch and Junior hunt camps with what I'm guessing is the same organization. I would have to say that your friend unfortunately ran into a "bad seed" right from the start. Everyone that I've been around at those camps over the years has been very courteous and friendly to all hunters in general, especially the youngin's.....regardless of which tag they had! I do hope it was just one individual that your friend is unhappy with and not the whole camp! Anyways, that is awesome to hear the boy tagged his first critter! Huge congrats to him! I bet that was an awesome thing for your friend to witness! JIM>

[Jimhm]

Troy, a big congrats to the young man that had the cow tag first of all and I am surprised at the way that your friend felt about the way he was treated. I had been involved in many of those camps and had also been responsible for putting a number of them together and at any of those camps the kids were welcomed whether they had a tag or not. We never turned a youngster or their family away. I know the people that put that camp together and if you or your friend would like their E-mail addresses to let them know what you think and maybe get a response, shoot me a pm.

 

Jim

[TLH]

Troy,

 

I will send a link to this thread to the Pres. of that group--whom i know would never act this way, and will be very upset with this info. I know for a fact that this camp is for all youth hunters not just 6A--6A was picked because it has the largest number of youth hunters--however, that said, they have the youth camp at the location that they have it at because there are other youth hunts going on in other units near the camp.

 

I am a life member of this group and i would never believe this would happen--i hope it doesn't ever again.

[Huntn coues]

Thanks Terry, Jim and Mr. Mullins.

 

Terry the friend that I am speaking about I believe you know. He is alway's at the youth camps in the Hillside area.

[rthrbhntng]

“This is what happened- A very good friend of mine was helping out on a 5bs cow hunt and the hunter was a 14yr old boy on his first hunt and this cow was his first harvest. After they took care of the animal they pulled into this youth camp for the shindig that they were having and after arriving one of the volunteers walks over and looks at this boy's tag and tells the boy "This is not a junior tag" and pretty much shunned him off. At no time did anybody from that

camp offer the boy a hot dog ,hamburger ,soda or even to take part in the festivities.”

 

Troy,

My name is Steve Clark and I am the current Pres of the Arizona Elk Society. I was present at the AES Youth Camp all weekend. I don’t know if the camp you are referring to is the camp that the Arizona Elk Society set up at the Happy Jack Lodge but I am going to tell it like it was.

 

First off, congratulations to all the youths and hunters that were successful in the elk hunts, I know that the meat processors around Happy Jack and Clint’s’ Wells were busier than they have ever been. After the weather cooled there were long lines at the processors dropping off their elk. It was great to see the processors making sure that the kids were involved in skinning their elk.

 

At the AES Youth Camp we never checked tags and welcomed all youths including those that weren’t even hunting. (A side note here would be that if the youth already dropped off his elk he wouldn’t even have a tag to show) We had give-a-ways and gave something to all the kids that we could. The AES manned an archery setup for all the kids to shoot. We and G&F thought that by providing the archery range for the kids it would broaden there hunting opportunities. Fri and Sat we had many kids stop by camp to shoot the equipment. Food and refreshments were available for any persons that stopped by regardless of where or even if they were hunting. G&F had sent out press releases to all the surrounding communities inviting anyone that was interested to stop by and check out the camp and shoot the archery equipment. FWIW The AES fed over 320 people throughout the weekend and talked to 140-150 youths. Many hunters came if asking for advice on where to locate elk. We had guides in camp and volunteers that were scouting the woods relaying the advice to hunters that were having a hard time finding elk. It is very rewarding to be able to talk to all the kids that stopped by about how there hunt was going and to see them beaming with pride while telling the stories of the elk that they harvested and the ones that got away. I was amazed at how many mothers were on the hunts with their kids.

 

Volunteering for these types of camps and events is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Helpings youth learn to enjoy hunting whether they are successfull or not and being part of passing on the hunting heritage to our youth is one of the main goals of the Arizona Elk Society. Any time we have an event all sportsmen are invited to stop by, help out or just stop and BS.

 

One of the highlights for me at this years camp was being able to help a group of hunters that included 3 generations of AZ hunters. A grandfather, Father and his son came to the camp to ask for help in locating their vehicle. They had got turned around and couldn’t find there truck. After going over the maps and driving to where we thought the truck was we located their truck. It was rewarding to see all three generations out there together hunting.

 

Steve

[Huntn coues]

Steve -

 

As my topic reads-"6a youth camp at Mormon Lake."

 

I want you and all who read this post to know that I am NOT talking about the camp in HJ.

 

The one I am referring to was the one at Mormon Lake. I know some people that went to the camp at Happy Jack

and they were very pleased and I am sure for the most part everyone was happy at the Mormon Lake camp

as well. (except for the youth I am talking about)

 

Sorry for any confusion and the AES is a class act. Thanks for all that you guy's do.

 

 

Troy

[rthrbhntng]

Troy,

You are correct. I recieved the link but did not go to the title of the thread.

Sorry

Steve

[COOSEFAN]

That sucks Troy! I grew up helping out at all those Unit Watch and Junior hunt camps with what I'm guessing is the same organization. I would have to say that your friend unfortunately ran into a "bad seed" right from the start. Everyone that I've been around at those camps over the years has been very courteous and friendly to all hunters in general, especially the youngin's.....regardless of which tag they had! I do hope it was just one individual that your friend is unhappy with and not the whole camp! Anyways, that is awesome to hear the boy tagged his first critter! Huge congrats to him! I bet that was an awesome thing for your friend to witness! JIM>

 

I was referring to the other organization in my post. I'm also a life member of this organization and am very surprised that such a thing would happen! I would guess that they were very busy and the boy was unfortunately overlooked. The person who checked the tag needs to be reminded of why that camp took place! I'm sure they had the same objectives and goals as the AES camp, but it just goes to show the impact that one persons actions can have! Again, that sucks to hear it happened, but next time tell your friend to swing on in to the AES camp instead JIM>

[TLH]

I spoke to "your friend" and he confirmed that it was the other camp and he told me what went down. Very sad and i know this person very well and know he wouldn't make this stuff up. The question about the tag that Steve brought up made since then this guy told me he and the group took the cow in to the camp to kind of show her off and that is when the camp host looked at the tag and said "5B? Your not a youth hunter" and then turned and walked away!!

 

So, the group went to 'this guys' trailer and cooked their own grub--

 

Like Jim said--you need to come to the AES camp next year and all will be good--not banging on the other camp but i know the camp that the AES group puts on is a winner every year!!

[ultramag]

I hope your friend explained to his son what a prick that guy was and that most hunters are not like that.

what a POS I hope that guy reads this post.

[dds]

Troy,

 

I sent you a PM. Thanks.

[AZRMEF]

Troy

 

I am very shocked to hear about the issue that a young hunter ran into at the RMEF 6A Youth unit watch camp not knowing which day that the youth attended the camp I dont know exactly who might have approached the young man. What a great accomplishment in conditions that were not exactly perfect with high winds over the weekend to take his very first elk. I can say that it was not the camp coordinator he is deaply hurt and concerned that this could have happened and we are trying to find out if any of the volunteers that were helping over the weekend had anything to do with this. But I can assure you that this was not someone that represents the RMEF for what we are trying to do for youth in Arizona. At this camp any youth that was to come with any tag in hand was to be registrered for any of the prizes if this didn't happen I apologize this was not the intent of this camp. I watched a young lady that didn't have an elk tag but had a whitetail tag for later in the year that was signed up for the prizes. This camp was for the youth hunters whether they were from 6A or not. On the meals at the camp anyone that came to the camp was invited to eat whether it was a youth hunter or an adult everyone was welcome. Again I would like to sincerly apologize to those who went away from the camp feeling that they were not welcome that is not why the RMEF is there and that was never the entended outcome. RMEF volunteers spend countless hours planning and preparing events such as the camp and it is upsetting to all involved with the planning of the camp that an incident like this could have happened. Please pass on the RMEF's apology to the youth and his family or have the youth's family contact me and I will apologize to them personnaly. I can assure everyone that an incident like this should never happen again.

 

Ron Pittman

Arizona Regional Director RMEF

[Huntn coues]

Thank's for the reply Ron I just sent you a PM.

 

Sorry it took so long to respond but I just got back in from a hunt.

[ac guy]

This sounds like the whole "few bad apples" scenario. One or two people making abunch of good people look bad. What a shame. Hope the joy of a successful hunt, overshadows a bad experience at camp.