posted February 7, 2010
The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (TWF) in partnership with Delta Waterfowl hosted the 2nd Annual Davis P. Rice Youth Waterfowl Hunt in Dyersburg, Tennessee on Saturday, February 6. The hunt is one of the largest organized youth waterfowl hunts in the nation, encompassing 20 farms with more than 175 youth hunters.
The youth participants are registered in the TWF's Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program (TNSCTP), the nation's largest youth shotgun shooting program. 20 lucky teams from across Tennessee were selected by a random drawing for the special hunt.
The Davis P. Rice Youth Waterfowl Hunt is in honor of TWF President Tom Rice's son Davis P. Rice. Davis was killed in an automobile accident in 2007 and was an avid waterfowl hunter. A memorial scholarship fund has been placed in his name.
"I am overwhelmed by the success of the event and the generosity of the all of the sponsors, volunteers and those contributing their land in efforts to promote youth hunting," said TWF President Rice. "Davis would be proud of what we have accomplished here."
"We are committed to sharing our love of the outdoors with our next generation and inspiring them to continue on conserving this way of life," said Chad Whittenburg, TWF Outreach Director and hunt director. "We sincerely thank the sponsors and landowners without whom this event could not take place," he continued.
The hunt was preceded by a banquet held on February 5th at the Lannom Center in Dyersburg, TN with more than 400 students, parents, sponsors and guides in attendance. Prizes valued at over $8,000 total were given away at the banquet, including a Tennessee Lifetime Hunting License and a shotgun. Additionally, $750 in scholarships was given way by sponsors Delta Waterfowl and Final Flight Outfitters, as well as two $500 scholarships from TWF's Davis P. Rice Scholarship fund.
Sponsors for the event included Sweeping Corporation of America, Inc., Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Final Flight Outfitters, City of Dyersburg, Knight & Hale® Game Calls, HotHands®, Bass, Berry, and Simms PLC, Ducks Unlimited, Rio Ammunition and Brophy Heineke & Associates. The Davis P. Rice Youth Waterfowl Hunt committee is made up of TWF President & Sweeping Corporation of America owner Tom Rice; Hunter Rice of Sweeping Corporation of America; Jerry Strom and Lance Rider of TWRA; and Mike Butler, Chad Whittenburg and Matt Simcox with TWF.
Teams and home counties participating in the event were:
Blount County: Heritage Shooting Team;
Coffee County: Coffee County Claybusters, Coffee County Middle Claybusters;
Crockett County: Crockett County Trap Team;
Cumberland County: Cumberland County Trap Team;
Dickson County: Clay Gunners;
Dyer County: Dyer County Trap Team;
Gibson County: Gibson County Pioneers and South Gibson County Hornets;
Giles County: Giles County High School Trap Team;
Grainger County: Grainger County Trap Team;
Lawrence County: Summertown Blastin' Crew;
Marshall County: Marshall County Trap Team;
Maury County: Spring Hill High School, Spring Hill Rookies, and Sante Fe Sharpshooters;
Rutherford County: Middle Tennessee Christian School
Shelby County: Collierville High School Trap Team and Cordova SCTP;
Williamson County: Battle Ground Acacemy (BGA)
For more information on TNSCTP or TWF, please visit www.tnwf.org.
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