FORT RILEY, Kan. -- It may not be enough for the Fort Riley Outdoorsmen Group to just enjoy the outdoors.
FROG has made it a mission to introduce hunting, fishing and the great outdoors to Fort Riley's youth.
Over Easter weekend, nine children participated in FROG's annual youth turkey hunt.
All of the children were given an introduction to turkey hunting during the ground school April 7 at the Fort Riley Skeet and Trap Range. From there, FROG volunteers partnered up with one or two children to go turkey hunting later that night, April 8 and 9.
Ollie Hunter, FROG board member, said safety was the priority.
"It takes years to learn how to hunt turkeys, but one cannot wait that long to learn safety," he said.
Hunter said FROG offers the youth turkey hunt, as well as deer and pheasant hunts and a fishing day so children with deployed parents or parents who aren't involved with hunting or fishing can have an opportunity to be exposed to and enjoy the outdoors.
Hunter said the FROG volunteerism is phenomenal. A handful of FROG volunteers taught the course and took the children hunting, and more were waiting at the wings, Hunter said.
David McNeal, FROG board member, has volunteered at the youth turkey hunt for multiple years.
"Our wildlife is going to be an endangered thing if we don't get more people involved," he said. "All the hunters I know are my age. The only solution is to get young people involved in the outdoors and get them a part of what's going on so we can ensure our future. We can leave a heritage for my grandkids and for their kids, and that's what it's all about."
McNeal, who has hunted for decades, said he loves watching children be successful and witnessing them during their first experience.
"The first time they're out before daylight and they get to hear a coyote sound off or an owl hoot or the first gobble or see a bird come in at full strut and look at their eyes and see how big they get, you just can't beat it," he said. "I'd rather watch them be successful than actually shoot a bird myself. Over my lifetime, I've killed more than I can remember. They've all been tasty, but just watching the excitement in the young people's eyes and seeing them become a part of what's going on here can't be beat."
Sgt. Maj. Jake Werner, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, and a FROG member, brought his children to the hunt.
"For my passion out in the woods and to see my two kids out there wanting to do the same thing and their excitement of the hunt, the stalk and actually harvesting a bird is probably more fun for me than me shooting one," he said. "Also, I'm a firm believer that if you get kids involved with fishing, hunting, sports or some type of activity, you've got a less likely chance of them doing something they're not supposed to."
The next youth activity FROG will offer is Fishing Day April 21 at Moon Lake. Also on April 21, FROG members will compete against the Kansas State University shooting team in a skeet and trap competition at the Fort Riley Skeet and Trap Range.
For more information on FROG, visit www.fortrileyoutdoorsmengroup.com.
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