General Outdoor Discussion
Kids and Mentors Outdoors (KAMO)
Why I didn't take a picture of our beautiful KAMO trailer in front of the building where the event was held is exactly why I fired myself from being chapter photographer years ago. Here's a couple other shots though.
Today's kids were older - they were from the Good Fight Community Center in La Crosse. It's not about the size of the fish. For two of these kids, it was their first.
KAMO held its "Joe Hunt" over the weekend of December 9,10, and 11th. The hunt is headquartered at the MacKenzie Environmnetal Center near Poynette. The mentor/ mentee pairs stay in the dorms there, eat their meals and socialize in the lodge. They hunt both on the MacKenzie grounds and several DMAP landowner properties in the area.
This year, there were 18 kids and even a couple adults hunted for the first time.
Eleven deer were taken. A local wildlife biologist was one of the novice hunters. He stayed throughout the weekend and aged each animal, removed their lymph nodes for CWD testing, and helped us through the forms, which include the GPS coordinates of the harvest site.
A story will be written about this in the next Outdoorsmans Journal, which is written by Mark Walters since 1989 and contains interesting tales of his experiences.
You my wonder how a buck was harvested during the anterless deer season. The answer is that the KAMO group runs this activity as a Learn To Hunt.
Learn to Hunts (LTH) are novice hunter expriences run by host organizations. An LTH, a DNR program, can be run in or outside of a regular season, no license needed by mentee, no hunter ed required by mentee. Mentee must be mentored. It is a chance for the novice to see whether they enjoy hunting before making decisions about buying equipment, etc.The (DMAP) Deer Management Assistance Program is also a DNR thing that allows landowners ro have some deer harvested off their property in exchange for some perks.
KAMO is starting to operate more fully. Here are a couple things from the La Crosse area chapter:
Hello KAMO Fans,
This is the first complete activity listing in two years! If interested in attending, please contact the lead person listed under that event well in advance. This allows us planning time. We create an “interested in activity” list.
We need people participating in our stuff whether they are officially in our group or not.. Feel free to share with others.
Saturday, April 2nd - Internet Field Day (hunter ed/ firearms safety) - Onalaska American Legion. 7:40 - 1:30. Intended for kids who want to participate in shooting sports and/ or hunting. Must be registered and have completed an online course in advance. Lead - Mike - [email protected]/ 608-799-5037.
Saturday April 2nd or 30th - Nature Connection Days - Norskedalen. Ages 5-9 - 11:00 - 12:30/ Ages 10 - 15 - 2:00 - 3:30 PM. Lead - Kati - [email protected]/ 608-393-8703. KAMO covers the fee for all KAMOKIDS.
Thursday, April 14th - Trip to the Best Dam Fishing float. This is a kids day off from school. Equipment provided. KAMO has a group rate and pays the fee. This is a great scenery, wildlife and fishing experience. Usually start in mid-morning, but Fritz will let you know.
Lead - Fritz - 608-799-7533.
The Coulee KAMO has recently taken groups fossil hunting and squirrel hunting.
We are going tubing at Whitetail Ridge at Fort McCoy.
Also, we are supporting a local WIFA team (high school aged ice fishing competitors) with equipment and chaperoning.
We could use other adults to help with the chaperoning - it should be a lot of fun.
