Enter Today – Winners Picked Each Month
RAPID CITY, SD (Feb 26, 2024) – The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) announces the latest winner in its Photos from the Field initiative and contest. “Several Nebraska mentors submitted photos of their students in the field and those students are our latest winners,” explained NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz. “Nebraska has a unique mentor youth archery program that introduces new hunters to the sport and supports them in the field while they are learning about safety, ethics and responsibilities. This specialized attention helps newcomers develop confidence in their skills and can energize them to bowhunt again over the years to come.”
“We’re very proud of our program that’s been teaching kids to bowhunt for over 25 years,” said Nebraska Outdoor Education Specialist Aaron Hershberger. “We have 100 participants and 20 mentors this year. What makes our program unique is that it runs all season long. We kick off in spring with learning archery skills and taking bowhunter education. Next, kids learn to scout, put up ground blinds, how to choose trees for stands, then they bowhunt with mentors and after season look for sheds. The key is to give them tools to be successful, so they continue to bowhunt. We appreciate this recognition from NBEF and their ongoing educational support.”
The program partners with the city of Lincoln, for example, to secure access and ends up helping with game management. Access is important because several participants work with one mentor at the same time so it’s important to have several trees relatively close together for tree stands.
“Our mentors are well trained. First, bowhunter education is required to bowhunt in the state of Nebraska. Then a yearlong mentor apprenticeship program pairs new mentors with experienced mentors to ensure new mentors are ready to lead their own group of students. The mentor youth archery program retains many of its mentors because it’s a rewarding experience for them as well as the kids. Many become lifelong friends,” said Jeff Rawlinson, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Assistant Division Administrator and NBEF Board Member.
NBEF understands the importance of creating an environment to highlight bowhunting in a positive manner and recognize bowhunters who are proud of their sport. Friends of the NBEF, students and instructors, past and present, are asked to share favorite bowhunting photos. A photo contest will award a random winner with an NBEF cap. The photo contest is not based on the size or score of the animal harvested. In fact, you don’t even need to include a harvested animal in your photo because we know some of the best days afield are when you don’t even draw your bow. Photos could show someone heading out, a gathering to share bowhunting stories, a meal prepared from the harvest, setting up or checking trail cams, maintaining equipment, or other events which help make memories of your time afield.
Email your photo to info@nbef.org and include your name (we’ll just post your first name and last name initial), home state/country and the state or country where your photo was taken. Select photos will be posted on NBEF.org, Facebook or Instagram.
“We enjoy seeing bowhunting photos from across the globe, showcasing your bowhunting photos on our website and awarding our lucky winners,” explained NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz.
NBEF helps bowhunters be safe, successful and stewards of the sport. NBEF offers bowhunting instructional items, books, videos, 3-D models, apparel and more at nbef.org.
About NBEF
The National Bowhunter Education Foundation offers instructional content and tools for bowhunter education classes in the US. Helping bowhunters become safe and successful hunters and stewards of the sport are important NBEF missions. NBEF provides the bowhunter certification standards and class content that some states and certain circumstances require to bowhunt. NBEF provides instructor training and certification.
NBEF oversees the International Bowhunter Education Program and works with the International Hunter Education Association and state agencies to coordinate a unified program. States may have additional requirements. Europe and other countries accept the NBEF (IBEP) certification and conduct classes.
NBEF also oversees the International Crossbow Education Program and works with state agencies responsible for crossbow education to develop comprehensive online crossbow safety courses that teach students important laws and regulations, game identification, and safe, responsible handling of crossbow equipment.
NBEF is a 501(c)3 corporation that isn’t a membership-based organization. Tax-deductible donations to support this non-profit are welcome.
Learn more at nbef.org.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kim Emery, Firefly Publicity, kim@fireflypublicity.com
