Conservation Education

Jonathan Swart sits proudly over magnificent sheep (see story in his words on the next page).

by Ryan Brock

WSF Youth Education Coordinator

INSPIRING YOUTH IS ON THE RISE

The saying, “April showers brings May flowers” is often referred to during those spring months when the weather warms and moisture falls from the skies to green up the land. However, when it comes to youth events this spring, we have seen a dramatic up-tick in the number of events we have been able to organize and get involved with, and a more truthful saying in relation to youth and the outdoors may be, “as events start to grow, the kids will show”. It’s true, as more gatherings have been able to occur across the nation, we have been able to be involved with educating and inspiring more kids than we have in two years.

It has been as refreshing as the spring weather to see all the Chapter & Affiliates holding their banquets this spring. The Wild Sheep Foundation was invited to create fun learning opportunities at eleven of our chapter and affiliates. Each of these youth events were unique, based on the banquet itself. With the addition of community events that also increased, just about every weekend this late winter and spring had some sort of youth event occurring that WSF was involved with.

One new experience worth mentioning was teaming up with Morr Range in Lancaster, PA. Each year WSF is invited to put together a Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience (YWCE) to go along with the Hunting & Outdoor Expo Eastern WSF holds. This year, after the event, we reached out to the couple hundred youth who attended and offered those 10-17 years old a youth firearms safety course at Morr Range. Youth received classroom instruction time first, followed by range time shooting twenty-twos in their indoor range. This was our first time creating an extension event after Eastern’s Expo to youth who attended the YWCE.

Over 1,500 more kids were engaged with WSF’s youth events and educational experiences this past year compared to the previous year. Although every event is unique, each Shooting, Hunting, & Ethics Education Program (S.H.E.E.P.) event is designed to excite and

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inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists. They aim at getting kids off electronics and into the great outdoors to take on some outdoor passion.

The story below involves just that, one young enthusiast of the outdoors, who at twelve years old had one

by Jonathon Swart

I was 12 years old when I drew my bighorn sheep tag for the John Day River in Oregon for the fall of 2021. It was Father’s Day and my dad and I were working on a job when we decided to check if we drew any of the tags we applied for. During our break, we checked my dad’s tag results first. Next, we checked mine. We looked over my results and found out I drew a spring bear, cow elk, and both a doe and buck tag. Then we looked down a little further and saw that the sheep tag was selected as well! It took us a bit to realize what had occurred. It then kicked in and we realized I drew a bighorn sheep tag!

We started calling everyone we could think of, every family member, and people that we knew that have been on a few of our family’s other hunts in the past. We had to begin planning for the trip. We heard about a ranch called White Elephant Ranch, and my dad quickly reserved us a place there to stay for my season. Before the opening of the season, we went to an Oregon Wild Sheep Foundation’s “Sheep and Goat Workshop” that they offer for tagholders and the public. One of the prior presidents of the Oregon WSF even offered to help on the hunt.

We arrived at the ranch two days before the opening day of the season. We scouted those days to see how amazing fall hunting season which will surely lock him in for life into a deeper understanding and connection of nature and hunting’s role in it. It involves a story we don’t often get to hear from someone so young telling it, as drawing a bighorn sheep tag is a difficult and long process, taking years and years in many cases.

our chances were going to be, and our chances appeared great. We were seeing 100+ sheep a day! Then, before we knew it, opening day was there and we spent time scouting and looking for just the right sheep.

After a few days of walking, driving and scouting, we found three big ones. One was long, one was short and thick, and the third was a

combination of both. We decided to pursue the one who had horns with a combination of the attributes, but we just couldn’t get in the right spot for a good shot. He was moving all over the place and he even went into the rock bluffs. We had to give up for that day.

The next day we were looking for him again, but didn’t find him because we found a different one that With his family’s support, along with friends, he describes his sheep hunt. Although we didn’t have a part in inspiring Johnathan, I believe the passion and excitement you will read in his words is what all who have a desire to help young people strive to hear. WS

was close to his size, but a little bit smaller. We went after that one and had to run down a ridge to get into a better spot. We had just enough time to get into shooting position. We shouted for him to stop. Finally, he stopped right at the top of the ridge and was perfectly broadside. I was so focused on him. I took the shot at 300 yards and he dropped where he stood. I hit right where my dad wanted me to, in the high shoulder. We all got so excited and we even got it on camera (you can watch a bit of it on our YouTube channel Swart Hunting Saga).

After a lot of hoopin’ and hollerin’ in excitement, we called the guys down so that we could get pictures and skin it. We skinned it from the back so that if we wanted to, we could do a full body mount. Everyone helped to pack him out. I packed the head and the hide. Once we all made it back to the cabin, we measured him and he was around 160 inches.

Now that the hunt was complete and everyone got a little rest, my dad and I headed straight to the edge of Idaho to give it to the taxidermist, Wildlife Artistry by Merle Remple. Unbelievably, we only had to wait three months and we got him back.

That will probably be the most fun year of hunting I will ever have in my life. A once-in-a-lifetime hunt, and all those other tags I mentioned…I filled them ALL! WS

We’ll see you at the Sheep Show® - January 2022See you at the Sheep Show® January 2023