PRATT - Promoting outdoor skills is a part of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' hunter recruitment program, "Pass It On." Outdoor skills training is just one of the many ways KDWP introduces youngsters to Kansas outdoor recreation.
    Because upland bird hunting is such a treasured heritage in Kansas, shotgun wingshooting is a particularly valuable skill. Learning to shoot flying targets with a shotgun can help young and novice hunters enjoy their hunting experiences more and make them more successful in the field. Improving wingshooting skills also promotes ethical hunting. An ethical hunter strives to be as proficient as possible. And wingshooting can also be enjoyed as a competitive sport through trap, skeet and sporting clays.
     Wingshooting classes are designed for groups of up to 20 young and novice shooters, boys and girls. One-day or half-day clinics are available. Instructors are National Rifle Association and National Sporting Clays Association certified. The department provides all equipment, shells, and targets. Youngsters 10 or older usually have the strength and coordination necessary to handle a shotgun, and completion of the Hunter Education course is also recommended, although not required.
    Groups and organizations interested in hosting a beginning wingshooting clinic for youth or novice shooters should contact Mike Miller at (620) 672-5911. Planning and scheduling requires at least two weeks notice. The basic shooting and safe gun handling skills learned will get potential hunters started right.